Things I Learned In College (updated as I go)
General
Endurance
Working 12-15 hour days, writing 10-20 page papers overnight, waking up in the middle of the night for fire drills and going to class three hours later, 9 hours of classes in a day, so much caffeine/nicotine/alcohol in your body that you hardly know how you're alive; college is all about surviving. Learning how to keep going when you could fall asleep standing up (and probably have, once or twice).
Multitasking
When you can juggle IMing people, writing essays, checking your email, talking on the phone, watching TV and highlighting pages in your textbooks, you're doing well. Everyone knows that you don't have the time to do everything within a day, so you do everything at the same time.
Time Management
This one is a kicker, because it doesn't actually exist in college. The well-timed individual either a) doesn't have a job, b) doesn't have a lot of classes, or c) is taking easy, blow-off classes. Time management is all about learning how to fit 234 hours of activities into a 168 hour week. Time management means living on 2-4 hours of sleep because you stayed up the night before doing homework after you got home from a work/school day which started at 7 a.m. and ended at 10 p.m. Extracurriculars? Ha ha. Only for the experienced TMers.
The Importance of Friends
Your family is gone for the first time in your life. For many, high school has vanished as well. It's important to remember how important making friends are. They're what will keep you sane, give you vices that will make you stay awake/okay after bad things happen, and work as a safety net when everything else seems to be going to hell. They'll reassure you about who you are when you doubt yourself as a person, give you hell when you think you're hot shit and you're not, and make you laugh when you're bummed out about that test score/ex/job/etc. Friends are important.
Journalism Related
Asking the Tough Questions
This is harder than it sounds. You know something is fishy. You can feel it in your gut. But how do you ask that sweet old lady if she committed fraud, even when you have the proof in your hands? Asking tough questions is something every good journalist has to learn to do. The bullshit is obvious. You just have to get over your fears and ask - even when you don't want to know the answers. That's what journalism is all about. And it's useful in your daily life too.
Seeing through the Bullshit
People will try to tell you the earth isn't round, but what do they know? You have fact-checking computer software and a million scientists on your side. You can quote them, but be sure to add the other side's point of view to make your story balanced. Also, PR speaks softly and smiles, and the watch is pretty and expensive, but don't let that distract you from the fact that they are not telling you anything! This sounds like a glossing over of the ill-conceived truth! Don't fall into the PR trap.
Forced Writing
You may not feel inspired or creative, but you have a deadline to meet. So you're throwing facts down on the paper, adding a few words here and there, and voila! Story. Good job. In fact, I'm going to need to have that edited. Six times. And change the title. And the lede? Seriously, do you call that writing? KEEP GOING! You can do it. Your fingers are bleeding but you can get through the piece. 500-1000 words, and 3 sources. So pick up the phone and call someone. Chances are they'll have a quote you can use.
Spine
That's right, you'll never get anywhere without a backbone. People will get pissed about what you write. They will walk all over you while you try to interview. They will call your manager, your editors, your teachers, and the head of the journalism department over something they said that they don't want printed. They will try to hide their schemes by making you look like the incompetent student worker. You're not. Buck it up, sonny, you've got a long ride ahead of you, and about 23 nasty emails in your mailbox. It'll be okay. The truth will set you free. (Right?)
Endurance
Working 12-15 hour days, writing 10-20 page papers overnight, waking up in the middle of the night for fire drills and going to class three hours later, 9 hours of classes in a day, so much caffeine/nicotine/alcohol in your body that you hardly know how you're alive; college is all about surviving. Learning how to keep going when you could fall asleep standing up (and probably have, once or twice).
Multitasking
When you can juggle IMing people, writing essays, checking your email, talking on the phone, watching TV and highlighting pages in your textbooks, you're doing well. Everyone knows that you don't have the time to do everything within a day, so you do everything at the same time.
Time Management
This one is a kicker, because it doesn't actually exist in college. The well-timed individual either a) doesn't have a job, b) doesn't have a lot of classes, or c) is taking easy, blow-off classes. Time management is all about learning how to fit 234 hours of activities into a 168 hour week. Time management means living on 2-4 hours of sleep because you stayed up the night before doing homework after you got home from a work/school day which started at 7 a.m. and ended at 10 p.m. Extracurriculars? Ha ha. Only for the experienced TMers.
The Importance of Friends
Your family is gone for the first time in your life. For many, high school has vanished as well. It's important to remember how important making friends are. They're what will keep you sane, give you vices that will make you stay awake/okay after bad things happen, and work as a safety net when everything else seems to be going to hell. They'll reassure you about who you are when you doubt yourself as a person, give you hell when you think you're hot shit and you're not, and make you laugh when you're bummed out about that test score/ex/job/etc. Friends are important.
Journalism Related
Asking the Tough Questions
This is harder than it sounds. You know something is fishy. You can feel it in your gut. But how do you ask that sweet old lady if she committed fraud, even when you have the proof in your hands? Asking tough questions is something every good journalist has to learn to do. The bullshit is obvious. You just have to get over your fears and ask - even when you don't want to know the answers. That's what journalism is all about. And it's useful in your daily life too.
Seeing through the Bullshit
People will try to tell you the earth isn't round, but what do they know? You have fact-checking computer software and a million scientists on your side. You can quote them, but be sure to add the other side's point of view to make your story balanced. Also, PR speaks softly and smiles, and the watch is pretty and expensive, but don't let that distract you from the fact that they are not telling you anything! This sounds like a glossing over of the ill-conceived truth! Don't fall into the PR trap.
Forced Writing
You may not feel inspired or creative, but you have a deadline to meet. So you're throwing facts down on the paper, adding a few words here and there, and voila! Story. Good job. In fact, I'm going to need to have that edited. Six times. And change the title. And the lede? Seriously, do you call that writing? KEEP GOING! You can do it. Your fingers are bleeding but you can get through the piece. 500-1000 words, and 3 sources. So pick up the phone and call someone. Chances are they'll have a quote you can use.
Spine
That's right, you'll never get anywhere without a backbone. People will get pissed about what you write. They will walk all over you while you try to interview. They will call your manager, your editors, your teachers, and the head of the journalism department over something they said that they don't want printed. They will try to hide their schemes by making you look like the incompetent student worker. You're not. Buck it up, sonny, you've got a long ride ahead of you, and about 23 nasty emails in your mailbox. It'll be okay. The truth will set you free. (Right?)