College Student Discuss Their Biggest Decision: Making the Most of Every Minute

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"For the first time, you will be in a place where no one knows you or your family, the culture or school you are coming from, your successes or failures, your dreams or fears. A clean slate can certainly be a good experience, but start writing anew as soon as you can. Now is your chance to determine the identity you will carry for the rest of your life. It is an exhilarating experience."- Richa Bhala, Amherst College

"I'm signing up."

"I'm moving out."

"I'm gay."

"I'm going abroad."

Most of 150-plus students interviewed for this book were asked to name the single biggest decision of their college career"why they made the choice and what its impact was. For some, the choice was something concrete, such as what to major in, or whether to travel abroad. For others, the decision was more abstract"how they chose to handle themselves, or how much they tried to expand their horizons.

Two patterns emerged. The first: Many students' biggest decisions frequently led to late nights, more work, and less free time"but bigger rewards. The second: Students seemed to have a keen sense of the value of college as a once-in-a-lifetime experience. They did not want to graduate knowing they missed a great opportunity. They did not want to regret bypassing the proverbial "road less traveled." So after weighing their options, they most often chose to forge their own path instead of playing it safe. This is not to say that the riskier choice or the more unfamiliar option is always better. Rather, the experiences cited here seem to suggest that unless there is a compelling reason to maintain the ­status quo, the benefits of taking a well-thought-out bold step ahead outweigh the possible drawbacks.

When you look back at the best times in your life, you won't think of days when you watched TV, listened to music, or just plain relaxed. You'll reflect on the times when you did something"when you were active, not passive.

That's what made it easy for so many students to say their biggest collegiate decision was to get actively involved in campus life. Indeed, the more students packed into their schedules, the more they felt that college was the best experience they could wish for, even if their commitments left them overwhelmed occasionally. And by no means does that mean that they skipped having lots of good times"it just means that the quest for fun was not their No. 1 priority.

"I have had more learning experiences, made better friends, and had more fun in club activities than any other college activity," says Selena Moshell (Rollins College). "My best memories of college will be from endless hours in the college radio station, days of setting up dance classes and meetings, and weeks of organizing recycling bins for the student body."

She urges freshmen to find a club that strikes their fancy and check it out. "Chances are, even if you don't end up joining the club, you'll meet people with similar interests, personalities, and traits."

Brittany Barhite already had a full calendar at Bowling Green State University when she joined the University Activities Organization, the college's programming board. "I went for it and it was the best decision I made," says Brittany. "Not only did it allow me to meet some great friends and leaders, but it made me change my mind about what I wanted to do with the rest of my life."

Another Bowling Green member, Aaron Turner, agrees that the rewards of immersing yourself in campus activities are immense. He's learned this in his role as editor of The Key, the Bowling Green yearbook. "Once you find your niche, everything goes well for you," says Aaron, who admits it took him two years to find that niche. "Getting involved to the max in one group, club, job, or other organization is the best thing to do."

Jennifer George recalls getting involved to the max her senior year in high school, as editor-in-chief of the yearbook. As anyone who's held the position knows, it entails dozens of hours of copy editing, reviewing proofs and layouts, and exhausting behind-the-scenes work. When she arrived as a freshman at Wake Forest University, the yearbook was the last thing on her mind. "I said to myself that there was no way I wanted to put myself through that again," says Jennifer, a 2004 graduate. But the quiet life wasn't for her. She became co-sports editor of Wake Forest's yearbook, the Howler, her freshman year. She made the leap to editor-in-chief sophomore year, and returned again to the position her senior year.

Despite all the work, she doesn't regret her choice for a minute, because it brought her so many rewards. "If I had chosen to not become editor, I can tell you that my college life would have been a lot easier to deal with," Jennifer says. "But I decided to take on the challenge, and it was one of the best things I could do. In taking on this responsibility, I learned a lot about myself. I matured and became a much more well-rounded person, I believe."

Alyssa Limberakis (Syracuse University) recalls rolling her eyes whenever someone would mention the idea that, "You get out of an experience what you put into it." But midway through her college career, she realizes why that axiom is repeated so often. "It's crazy, but it's so true," she says. She cites her biggest college decision as throwing "caution to the wind" and being
outgoing"getting involved in campus life, meeting people, and taking chances. "If I hadn't done that, my college life would be so different. I wouldn't have the wonderful group of friends who I call my school family.' I wouldn't have joined activities. I wouldn't have made study buddies in my classes."

Part of what motivates students to make the most of every minute on campus is the realization that the clock is ticking. College is the best time to explore yourself"to find out what makes you tick. Once college is over, students will be involved with their careers or graduate school, putting in 40, 50, or more hours a week. [It's a great time of life, too, but make no mistake: The pressures are greater and the free time is less abundant.] Those who've seized the moment while in college tend to look back on their years with no regrets. "The best advice I have is to get involved at your university and enjoy all it has to offer," says Brittany Barhite. "Because pretty soon it's out in the real world with lots of work and a lot less play."