Sure, you’ve probably heard the phrase “living my best life,” but what does that even entail? Chances are you’ve seen it as a caption on a photo of a girl discovering herself after a breakup or a picture of a group of friends on a beach vacation. But how can you make this catchphrase work for you in a beneficial way as you go through your college years?

 

Making the most of your college experience can be the easiest thing you’ve ever done or the most difficult thing you’ve ever tried to accomplish. It’s all up to the eye of the beholder. Some students spend four years cooped up in their dorm rooms trying to make the best out of the thousands of dollars they put into getting an education. Others spend every waking moment counting down the minutes until the next rad party or excursion. So, if you’re lost and confused about your options, maybe the best thing for yourself is trying to find the balance.

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For those who need a little push in diving deeper into your education, remember that the main reason you are here is to get a degree. If you let that idea slip by, you may regret it in a few years. In fact, according to a survey by Inside Higher Ed, 51% of college graduate respondents admitted to wishing they could have changed at least one decision in college. And if you feel pressured by friends to put the studies on the back burner and constantly be socializing, try finding your personal study space and stay true to it. If you stick to your dorm or apartment for homework and studying, chances are you won’t feel super productive. This is the place where you go to sleep and hang out with friends, often making it hard to do much else. So, find a quiet corner in the Reed building or another building where you spend most of your time in between classes. Hit up the library where you don’t really stand a chance with noisy distractions. Wherever you find yourself most comfortable to be productive, use it to your advantage. Or maybe you work better in groups – try creating a study group. Maybe let your reward after cranking out some homework become hanging out as a group at the end of the day.

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Don’t be fooled – being tied down to your studies isn’t the only answer. Having a healthy social life in college is equally important. You’re probably away from your support system at home and you could use a few people to lean on. Consider getting friends together and taking advantage of free/cheap things that the school offers you. Every Friday night, Lion Entertainment Board offers free events (usually in McGarvey) for every Behrend student. And you often get some freebies or food just for attending. If that’s not your thing, consider getting involved on campus. According to U.S. News, involvement in a club or organization grants a student connection to their school, the chance to build community, and an opportunity to discover their passions and strengths – not to mention a boost on your resume! And if you’re busy, you will likely learn better time management skills than other students because of all of the aspects going on in your life. Chances are, these skills will help you after graduation as well.

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Maybe you’ve already figured these things out. But just remember that this is the one time in life where it is acceptable to be all over the place and have no idea what you are doing. College gives you so many learning opportunities and it is usually perfectly okay to mess up here and there. Just leave yourself some room for improvement.

 

Realize that you are young and that you have your entire life ahead of you. Stay in the moment and let things fall into place as you go through the journey. You will probably discover what your “best life” is along the way.