A few days ago, I was scrolling through my Facebook newsfeed. And as I scrolled past several "Top 10" lists and tons of sorority pictures, I stumbled upon an article on The Today Show website. It was written by a father who was expressing why he hates the tremendous amounts of homework his son is receiving; his son, by the way, is only in middle school.
After reading this tremendously well-written article (which I encourage you all to read it), it made me think about my homework situation in college. The verdict? It doesn't get much better, kid.
You will encounter professors that truly believe that the class they teach is the only class that 1. is important and 2. is the only class you are taking. They fail to realize that you are taking (at least) four other classes in addition to their "important" class, and they will give you enough homework for a month, and expect you to do it in a few days. They give busy work, work that leaves you questioning the point of the assignment and wondering what class you actually signed up for.
At some point, you will have two-and-a-half hour classes late at night, and then have to study for a test that just happens to be first thing the next morning.
You will have to take classes that you have no interest in taking, classes that are not in your major and learn information that you will really, truly, never use in real life. Yes, there are certain aspects of all subjects taught in school that apply to whatever job you may have in your future. But there are some things that you may never find a use for, but you spend a whole semester of your life trying to learn in order to pass a test.
You will be expected to join clubs and on-campus organizations that reflect your interests and career goals. And guess what? Almost every single thing you join will have a meeting on the same night (and most likely at the same time!). And somehow, you will make it to all of them with seconds to spare.
You will do so much work in such a small amount of time; you will work through meals, and sometimes even work through full days. You will work so hard that you might even think you are working a full-time job. And in some ways, you are. To juggle all of these exhausting demands is hard work. And to not "drop the ball" on anything in your life take some extreme skill.
Yes, I know. This all sounds exhausting. It sounds depressing. It sounds miserable. But you know what? What you get out of all of this aggravation (and yes, even suffering) is a greater sense of yourself. You become you. You learn how much you can handle, you learn how to manage stress, you learn how to deal with difficult people with difficult personalities (who also happen to be in positions of authority), and you learn how to live and thrive in a competitive world. It is through this crazy, hectic, stressful experience we call college that we learn our true potential.
And the kicker? You are grateful for it all at the end of the day. Go figure that one out.
Until next time,
That Working University Girl
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