12,480 Hours

We have been told that in order to become good at something, you must practice. Take for example chess. For many chess players, their biggest dream is to reach the title of a chess grandmaster, which according to Chess.com, requires 12,480 hours of practice a year. That right there is some serious commitment. But of course, there are certain things that we simply cannot practice 12,480 hours for. Somethings we just learn as they come, which I personally believe is the best type of learning. I find this to be true when I first begin my journey as a first-generation college student, I was learning as I went. And although I am not a grandmaster at college journeys, these are a few things I learned along the way being a first-generation college student.

Take advantage of the resources provided to you

During High School, your email or morning announcements were probably the best forms of communication to know about events and resources going on around you. And it was up to you to go out and look for these resources that were there to simply help you and answer your question. If you were anything like me and committed the mistake of being too lazy to stay after school or take time out of your weekend to attend these events, you would realize that you missed out on a lot of help. Now being a college, this is a critical point I must emphasize. TAKE ADVANTAGE OF YOUR RESOURCES. Whether it’s free tutoring offered by your school, seminars to improve your writing, or students planned activities, they will all serve a purpose in making an aspect of your college journey easier.

Don’t be afraid to ask questions

Who, Why, When, Where, and How. These are a few ways to start a question. And trust me when I tell you, I know what it feels like to be scared of asking questions and appearing unintelligent or clueless, but the feeling of being lost and in the dark is much more brutal. In my experience, the internet helped a lot when venturing into college, but the internet will never know me as well as my counselors and teachers. That’s why I highly motivate you to go to seek help from those who you trust and know will be there to answer your questions. You never know what might come out of it. Simply sitting down with someone helps you understand new ideas, build relationships, and gain trust. Therefore, don't be afraid to pop in during your teacher's office hours, because sometimes a one on one is what many students need to improve their college experience.

Take that leap of faith

Thinking back to High School, extracurriculars were a major part of my personal growth, they pushed me to make new friends, open up to new ideas, and simply made my free time more valuable. Before entering college, I pondered heavily on whether I would be able to do the same. Compared to high school, college is more time consuming and has higher stakes, but being involved in a community where you will be spending at least the next 4 years, it’s important to get involved, to make connections, and to make an impact. I encourage you to take a leap of faith, to put yourself out there, even when something seems scary or uncomfortable. College is just the beginning of our lives, and taking that leap of faith will only set you up for success. This of course does not simply apply to clubs or groups, but also within your classroom and everyday life. If you must, be that leader in a breakout session, take that internship opportunity, wear that outfit that you would never wear in public.

In the grand midst of things, we will all embark on our own journeys and live out our own lessons, but I hope that whatever path you decide to take, you live curiously by always seeking out answers and new ideas, but most importantly, be brave enough to take that leap of faith because you never know what will await you on the other side.