Comments on: A Letter of Advice to College Freshmen

By: Julian Salas

Julian Salas — Mon, 01 Mar 2010 06:37:13 +0000

Jessica, thank you so much for your reply, it is exactly what i needed to hear.

By: nuo-dreams

nuo-dreams — Fri, 24 Oct 2008 09:21:23 +0000

I really agree with you.

By: Jessica

Jessica — Tue, 08 Jul 2008 02:09:50 +0000

My advice would be to consider taking a few years off between high school and college, if you can. Work at a guest ranch in Montana, at a hamburger joint in Ohio, or as a clerk in a library in Florida. Look into internships if you can swing that financially. Try to see a few different parts of the country. Feel completely overwhelmed by the change. Feel what it’s like to be in the workforce doing the 9-5 grind, and feel what it’s like to be doing something different. Listen to what the people you work with talk about. What are their lives like? Do you want your life to be like theirs? Maybe take a few community college courses that interest you. Maybe volunteer a little. Try to build your sense of self in whatever way you know how. Try to have some varied experiences. Make a contract with yourself to return to school at the end of two years, unless you truly know at that time that you’re not ready yet.

My point is that it can be good to be in the world a little bit before you begin college. It gives you context, it opens your mind, it lets you think your own thoughts on your own terms for awhile, it gets your butt out of the classroom chair it’s been in for so long, and hopefully it helps you forge a bit of self reliance. Self reliance is invaluable in college, where you’ll suddenly have more freedom than ever to determine your own direction. If you’re really confused during college, you’ll be unable to take full advantage of a rich opportunity that you will never really have again in the same way.

Taking time off might not be the right thing for everyone–but from someone who struggled with feeling stifled in college, it could be the right solution.

By: sachin

sachin — Mon, 16 Jun 2008 09:10:49 +0000

To some extents it sounds realistic, but at the same time no one learns without going throgh the same. You goof up and you get to know, that’s what life is all about.I couldn’t really match my college education with my professional life, so why so much of time wasting?
One learns with his experiences, so let one feel free do so.

By: Should You Get Plastic Surgery | Self Help Station

Should You Get Plastic Surgery | Self Help Station — Mon, 03 Mar 2008 18:13:33 +0000

[...] days, plastic surgery is often much maligned, and while the apparent levity with which it is sometimes undertaken and its [...]

By: steve

steve — Mon, 25 Feb 2008 06:41:58 +0000

holy hell bob dylan im going to print that off and use it for motivation when ever im having trouble thats awesome…john i like yours too hah sorry

By: Andi

Andi — Wed, 13 Feb 2008 04:32:57 +0000

In regards to the first point made…How, then, should the students feel when they can’t pin down the career path they’re going to enjoy for the rest of their lives? This is what I found especially frustrating during my time at college. I spent years, not to mention thousands of dollars trying to find a passion and all the pressure to do so led me to feeling like a failure….SO what do you say to those kids???

By: teresa

teresa — Fri, 23 Nov 2007 05:15:40 +0000

Very well said!
I have to mention the fact that many people don’t take advantage of most of the resources you have access to as a University Student, be it Career Services, Seminars, Guest Speakers, Writing Workshops, any Workshops for that reason, the GYM!! etc..etc…
Most of these services are included in your tuition, and many students fail to use them! They should be taken advantage of, see what they can offer you!

By: UB 101 » Good read - letter of advice

UB 101 » Good read - letter of advice — Wed, 26 Sep 2007 19:38:25 +0000

[...] other college graduates have to offer. John Wesley, a self-improvement author has written this “Letter of Advice to College Freshmen” on his website, Pick the Brain. In it, he shares how he learned to follow his passions, have [...]

By: Anson

Anson — Fri, 01 Jun 2007 18:53:36 +0000

I think one thing that should be stressed is that college (or university) is a fabulous way to meet like-minded people. College is not a 4 year hurdle on a path to a career, it’s a chance to get involved with people who are smart and interesting.

Concentrating on a career is fine, but getting lost along the way is better.