Sorry, had to run to the store.
A few things to keep in mind Shake:
1) and this is VERY IMPORTANT: Things don't always go according to your plans. Matter of fact, very little will. Don't set very specific goals for yourself at this point in your life. I know they are teaching more career awareness in HS, but if you start thinking in too much detail about what you want, you're not going to handle the dissapointment when it comes, AND IT WILL COME at some point. For now, getting into an appropriate college and having a general idea of what you want to do is enough. When I was your age, I wanted to be a neurosurgeon just so I could become filthy rich. When I was a freshman, I wanted to get into football coaching and I did. Then I realized while I loved coaching, teaching high school kids would not be intellectually stimulating to me. Hello grad school. Realized I enjoy teaching chemistry almost as much as I loved coaching football. Hello career. I have friends who's career trajectory is much more random and sporadic, but they all fell into something they wanted to do.
2) You have to learn to be social. I'm not talking about being one of the cool kids. Those kids are assholes, I used to be one of them. But you need to learn to get along with your peer group, and as you get older your peer group will be less about age and more about what you have in common. You need to get along with your co-workers, superiors, and subordinates. Everyone talks about networking, but you learn how to do it without making it obvious you are trying to puts you ahead of the game. I met a professor at a teaching conference that I went to specifically to network simply because we had a shared love of spicy food. We had a contest to see who could handle the hottest stuff, and by the next session everyone knew who the grad student and the Hungarian guy from the small college were, and all because we weren't afraid to be ourselves. People saw us as friendly and outgoing, and everyone tried to get us during break down group because we were engaging and comfortable in our own skin. We weren't putting on an act, it was natural. That means make friends, the kinds you can physically shake hands with. Start practicing in HS.
3) Dorms are required (and a good thing) the first year, but they suck beyond that. Don't become an RA. You'll encounter way too many people in situations you'd rather not be in, and I'm not just talking about finding some dude masterbating to a picture of a female RA. When you move off campus, learn to cook. Start easy, raman noodles, mac & cheese from a box, hot dogs. Gradually move up in complexity. Cooking impresses people (particularly ladies), look at how big of a rockstar lonestar is here. You also learn more about finance. You learn how to deal with others. One roommate doesn't do the dishes, another has the TV too loud when playing video games, another is taking his sweet-ass time in the bathroom and you need to get to class. All that stuff prepares you for the real world. It's also a great way to make great friends.
4) Don't throw a party at your place. Someone else is always willing to host a party. Trash their place, don't let people trash yours.
5) Don't hesitate, just do it. You don't want to live with regret later. Have fun, whatever that becomes for you. That doesn't mean get blitzed the night before your 8 am final, but go bowling with your friends and stay up late to finish that assignment occasionally.
6) The real world can wait. Enjoy all the time you have until then.
7) Internet message boards barely existed when I was your age, and I didn't have the internet or anyone to tell me what to do/expect in college. It's different for everyone, don't plan it or micromanage your life that way you can enjoy it.
Topic: The official "Clue MasterShakezula into College and the Real World" thread (Read 5837 times)