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| Connor Tracy, Class of 2016 |
First of all, work hard play hard. While you’re in college, if you want to be successful, you’ll take more notes than you ever thought possible. The term “all-nighter” will haunt your dreams during the small amount of sleep that you actually get. You’ll spend countless hours making study guides, reading books, and asking for help. Living up to your potential and making good grades in college requires so much more than natural intelligence. Having a strong work ethic is essential to making it. Eventually this will become exhausting. If you live your life in a constant state of work, you’ll drive yourself mad. College is all about balance. In order to balance out all of this hard work, you have to make time to play hard. Whether it’s tailgating all day for a football game, racing go-karts, or just going out to dinner with some friends, make time solely for relaxing and enjoying life. If you can find a balance to work and play, you’ll take care of business and not drive yourself crazy in the process.
Secondly, you should value relationships. After a few months away at college you’ll begin to realize how many people you’ve taken for granted in your life. Don’t dwell on this, but understand how important relationships with other people are. It’s tempting to make college all about yourself, studying for your tests, making good grades for your future, asking for things because you deserve them. Sadly enough, the world doesn’t revolve around you. In college you’re surrounded with people from all over the
world that have goals, passions, fears, etc. This includes fellow students, friends, teachers, and workers around campus. If you invest in yourself you’ll end up close-minded, and stuck with only opportunities that you create. By choosing to invest in the goals, passions, fears, etc. of others, you learn so much about the world around you and take away many lessons that you can apply to your life. You also create personal connections that make life more exciting, challenging, and rewarding. Always take time to thank those that assist you in times of need, and stand ever ready to lend a hand to others.
Next, don’t be afraid to take risks. You have four years to focus on who you want to be, and a lot of that comes from taking chances. Sometimes you just have to close your eyes and take a leap of faith. Whether you succeed or fail is irrelevant. The way you handle the result is what really matters. No matter what our parent’s say, life isn’t as serious as its made out to be. Take chances and make mistakes. Face any adversity with a level head and don’t be afraid to change. By taking chances you’ll be introduced to yourself, and increase your chances of finding something you’ll truly love. Additionally, you should learn how to cook, or find a significant other that can.You no longer are provided home cooked meals and you’ll get burnt out on noodles within a few months. Fast food every day is not a smart option for both your wallet and your health. So, learn to cook. Ask your grandmother for recipes or visit home and help your mom cook dinner. Buy a cookbook and try something new. Not only will you actually have meals that taste like real food, but you’ll also be one step closer to that dreaded time in your life called adulthood.
Finally, become slightly obsessed with athletics at your university. You’re not in high school anymore. They have moved on and so should you. If you don’t know anything about sports, take the time to figure it out. You chose to attend the university you’re at, so be proud of it and support the teams that represent the place you’ll be calling home for at least the next four years of your life. College sports bring people together.You’ll laugh, you’ll cry, you’ll remember that one game for the rest of your life. Don’t miss out on these experiences, especially tailgating.
Connor Tracy is a junior McConnell Scholar from Mayfield, Ky. He is studying political science, philosophy and pan-African studies.