Advice for the teenager who’s off to school
Ways to make the journey through higher education all the more rewarding and meaningful for students
Celia is headed to college. After 18 years of raising her, Celia knows how to jump-start a car, write a cheque, make a doctor appointment and stand up for herself if she’s being mistreated. Let’s hope she has enough sense to change her sheets more than once a semester, not to leave food sitting out and uncovered, and empty the lint screen before starting the dryer.
Celia’s pretty set on the basics of living on her own — even if we’ve failed miserably at getting her to make her bed every day (not for lack of nagging).
But before we drop her at the dorm and embark on the lonely drive back to our too-quiet house, I feel the urge to transmit some last tidbits of parental advice.
This list encompasses advice I either received, learned or wish I had gotten before I left home, and I hope it makes our daughter’s journey richer. Maybe your child’s as well.
1. Go to class! We hope you’ll make friends and get involved with exciting things. But remember why you worked so hard to get here and make learning your biggest priority.
2. Get to know your professors. Especially at a big school, it can be intimidating, but you’ll get more out of school if you introduce yourself to your professors and go to office hours at least occasionally.
3. Say yes (not to that!). College is a unique opportunity to do and go to unusual things, and many of them are free and within walking distance. Try things you wouldn’t normally be interested in (plays, student movies, etc.). Whenever possible, say yes to new experiences.
4. Eat at least five fruits or veggies a day. No matter how busy you get, take care of your body and its needs. You’ll be able to stay healthy, think more clearly and enjoy yourself more if you get some sleep, exercise, eat well and take some time to breathe, unplug and think your own thoughts.
5. Immerse yourself in new places and cultures. You have the good fortune of having this exciting opportunity to live somewhere new and travel without the binds of a full-time job or much financial pressure. Taking a semester abroad or living in a culture different from your own for at least a summer broadens your perspective.
6. When you feel like judging, be curious instead. You’re going to meet people with different beliefs and lifestyles from yours, and they have had different life experiences than you.
7. Start saving whenever you start earning. Whether automatically or deliberately, try to put away 10 per cent of what you earn throughout life so you’ll have more options when you need or want them.
Someday you might want to take a trip around the world, buy your dream house or give a year of service, and having a fund to draw from will make following your heart easier.
We are so excited to follow your journey, meet your favourite people and hear about your newly discovered passions. And when you can take a break between studying, going to student-directed plays and exploring your new city, tell us what life lessons you would add to this list (and make your dang bed before you . . . oh, never mind).