As the new school year begins, it is valuable for everyone to take a moment to reconsider exactly what they are doing here in this massive, supposedly life-altering realm that is college. The fact is that many of us come to college without ever knowing why we are here or what we want to gain from the experience.
A perfect example is two friends of mine who graduated in the upper portion of their high school class and came to college just like the rest of us, looking to continue their educations and pursue their careers. Although they were neither dumb nor unmotivated, these friends of mine will not be returning to the UA this semester for really one reason - they forgot why they came. It also appears that this scenario happens more frequently than you might expect; almost 20 percent of every incoming freshman class fails to return the following fall.
A fair number of students come to college simply because they always assumed that they would, or because their parents decided for them that they would go. It is important to remember that higher education is a privilege, not a right, and that ever-growing tuition hikes mean it is a privilege that is increasingly expensive.
In order to make the most of your limited time here, I suggest the age-old tactic of goal setting. I don't mean that in a corny, "Follow your dreams!" motivational speaker type of way, but rather as a serious suggestion that may dramatically improve what you gain from the best four years of your life.
While the semester is still young, consider what exactly it is that you want out of this school year. For example, if you're still angry about getting a "C" in English last semester and you want to bring your grade point average up, then determine in advance what grades you need in each of your classes to raise your GPA to your desired level. The university even offers a tool, the A/B deficit calculator on Student Link, designed for this exact purpose.
Perhaps you were bored out of your mind last year and your main desire is simply to find something to occupy your time that you enjoy. This campus has more than 430 registered clubs, dozens of intramural and varsity sports teams, and thousands of activities that you could become involved with at almost any time. The Student Union Web site offers listings of these clubs, and contact information is easily accessible. Find a few things that you're interested in, and make it your goal to investigate all of them before the semester ends.
Maybe you already know exactly what you want to do in life, and your main priority while you are here is to gain experience and knowledge to help you succeed later on. In that case, there are all kinds of clubs and professional organizations that can help you by answering your questions and beginning to develop connections. Not to mention the fact that there are literally thousands of internships that are available to college students, and you need only consult your adviser to get pointed in the right direction for opportunities in your chosen career field.
One final benefit of determining your objectives early on is that it will allow you to make an honest assessment of yourself when the semester ends. If you succeeded in reaching your target GPA, then you will understand the kind of work ethic and effort you will need to maintain it in the future. Maybe you'll finish the semester with a better idea of just what you'll have to do to get the job you want so badly.
Maybe you didn't find a campus activity that appealed to you and you need to keep looking. Whether or not you accomplish what you had hoped for, setting personal goals for yourself will allow you to honestly evaluate your success at the end of the semester.
The great thing about the American university is that it is so much bigger than the teacher, the classroom and the student. It's entirely possible for college to be the best four years of your life, but before it ends, make sure you pause to figure out just exactly why you came.
Michael Huston is a political science and philosophy sophomore. He can be reached at letters@wildcat.arizona.edu.