Things I Wish I had Known as College Student

Things I wish I had known when I was a freshmen, or a uni student, at least.

When I was at uni, I didn't get any tip on how to fully unlock my career potential and skill as an individual. I was in organization but did not eventually grasp the essential. I was in quite good in class but still had no idea where I should go next. I was in holiday but I did not gain anything.

I'll share the key to unlock the power of the mundane opportunity that uni students have. Everyone has this opportunity, but not everyone could press it tightly. Just like how 24/7 is distributed for anyone, but the progress is really personal.

Without further ado, lets check them up.

1. Holiday does not mean vacation. Enroll yourself for an internship / softskill and hardskill training.

I wish anyone had told me this. Uni students have longer period of holiday. It differs among majors, but usually it takes up one or two months. During this time, a clueless head would only fill their days by sitting down and having fun. Going here nor there just to free the mind.

But guess what? Let's dig deeper. What makes the uni holiday takes longer than usual student?

It's because the free time is supposed to be the medium for you to enchance your practical skill out of campus. It's time to keep up with your worker friends whose the opportunity getting job earlier because they dont enroll for an uni. It's time to practice the theoritical skill to working environment.

Go search on Google: (major) internship. Or any freelance work goes in hand with your interest; writing, teaching, anything.

Holiday time is supposed to be the time when you fill your hardskill training bank.

2. Don't wait for your friends.

I know. The more the merrier. But if waiting makes you like a leavened bread, better don't. You'll get mold and be toxicated.

Go pack your suitcase, leave, and get ready to meet another circles of awesome individuals. There are tons of people who want to be better. Who are just as amateurs as you, but they want to be your mentor, motivate you to become the best version of you. To find them, you need to leave the current pond and swim against the stream meeting them.

Go.

3. Be the fool.

I mean, literally. A research shows that to keep your self standard evolving, you should find a place where you keep your ground as a long-life learner.

If in uni you are known for sharpest tool, you better have a secret escapism that will keep your force of ambition in learning keep burning. Find local courses that help you enjoy the process of learning without being complimented or humiliated.

Too many compliments is no good, like a toxin load then you need a detox. And the cure is being grounded by learning more new things and feel the sensation of a fool, a pure and sincere learner. Be with new teachers and new passion to learn things.

4. Have spiritual growth.

We always need something more powerful, more mighty to lean on. It's a fact. Spoken everywhere by experts, be it they are muslims or not. The fact that we trust there is something more powerful to us that keep protecting us give a sense of calmness.

And for muslims, that's a big sign for you to keep learning about your religion. Do not miss out the greatest gem left by the prophet inheritors. Who are they? The scholars.

Go to the mosque. Find the circles. Join halaqa and majlis.

You don't have to be a santri to learn your religion, you just need to be muslim.

Ask to Allah for guidance. Have your spiritual growth evolved to make you live even better. Inshaallah, everything will eventually fall into places.

And if you look back again, all those beautiful memories that you keep is the one where you involved Allah the most within your life.

احْرِصْ عَلَى مَا يَنْفَعُكَ وَاسْتَعِنْ بِاللَّهِ وَلاَ تَعْجِزْ

Strive for that which will benefit you, seek the help of Allah, and do not feel helpless.

-Sunan Ibn Majah 79

Allahumma bariik fiik.
Kullu maa qadarullahi khair.

Best things will happen right in front of your door, inshaa Allah.