College

College life (I use University and College interchangeably, both mean the 4 year public institute in which I am studying):

It is not all that it is cracked up to be. But I don’t have the typical experience either. I live at home with my parents and walk to school, as it is less then 10 minutes of walking distance. My freshman year I socialized a lot and I had a ton of fun but at the expense of my studies (which is the reason I am going to University isn’t it?). I ended up with good grades but I wasn’t happy with how much extra studying I had to do by finals to get the grades I did. My sophomore year I cut back on hanging out with friends (which they weren’t too happy about) but over compensated in the work area (Because I was doing a summer semester in Germany…SO worth it), so my grades again suffered actually ended up with 3 C’s that year (2 from the same History professor for different classes, He was a great teacher I just couldn’t pass his tests to save my life and in Economics, again great teacher but Economics is something I have resigned my self to never understanding). Germany summer classes were easy and I enjoyed the experience of a whole month in a different country. I was a little home sick by the end but totally worth it. That part of College I recommend if at all possible if it is offered. My Junior year of College was good, I worked and balanced out friends, but my Spiritual life suffered, I was working in my church’s nursery so often that I never got to go to a sermon, so having learned about balancing I changed up my schedule so in the Spring semester I at least got to go to body life (our small groups that meet Sunday evenings at church members homes). Going into my Senior semester of University I have learned that the stereotypical college experience isn’t all that great because most students grades suffer, which is fine if they don’t have personal and parental expectations of all A’s and B’s (from having a dad that did Undergrad and Graduate degree in 3.5 years at 4.0). But I don’t like have any C’s (even t though I do have 3 that I worked my tail off for), so my goals going into my senior year are to study hard early so by the time finals roll around I don’t have to worry as much but try and balance all three aspects of my life. I do have to worry about doing my GRE and applying to Grad school and applying for scholarships and student teaching in the Spring, but for now I’m just trying to focus on one thing at a time, right now studying for my GRE coming up in less then a month.