On Reflection

It is SO important to take time to reflect after completing a college course.  What did you actually take away from the class that you just paid hundreds (or thousands) of dollars for? Think about that for a second.  If you can't automatically spew at least one major concept that you really grasped, you probably just wasted a lot of your time. And effort. And money. 

I know what you're thinking:

• "I suck at math.  I'll never use math again--not algebra, not trigonometry, not calculus.  I'm done forever, hallelujah!"

• "You won't find THIS guy writing research papers in my future career."

• "Who uses Microsoft Access anyway?"

But I'm not talking about the need to forever solve word problems here.  What I am suggesting is that you make a conscious effort to find meaning in what you were taught so that you can apply those lessons later on.  Start by answering simple questions: What was challenging? Why did I really struggle with? What seemed completely obvious? Follow up with: How can this knowledge help me in the future? 

For example, in my Entrepreneurial Marketing & Finance class I had to learn how to fail--over and over again. I think that out of the 115 prospective clients that my group pursued, only four said "Yes," and purchased our product.  That's a lot of no's (111, to be exact).  But being a true entrepreneur isn't about making all the right choices and immediately succeeding.  It's about trusting your initial instincts, handling constructive criticism, tweaking strategies, refusing to allow others to take advantage of you, and overall, digging deep to stay motivated.  It is a process.

Some extremely brutal classes may just remind you that life is hard and that not everything comes easy--thanks, Accounting 2.  While others may teach you that every college student deserves at least one "Easy A" and life doesn't always have to be taken so seriously--thanks, Intro to Jazz Appreciation.

OR 

You may not carry academic lessons with you at all.  College forces you to manage time, interact with a diverse group of people, deal with stress, rise above distraction and temptation, put on your big-girl pants and face the music--even when you are overworked, underpaid, sleep-deprived, and therefore highly considering a "career" at your local ice-cream shop. Reflecting on these experiences is just as important if not more. 

Just do yourself a favor (and whoever else that has a hand in paying for your education) and truly take something away from all of this.  By reflecting on lessons learned you are giving meaning to your college experiences.  Without meaning, college is just a money pit you fall into where Mrs. Donovan "wah, waah, waaahs" you to death for four-plus years.