Written By: Tim Johnson
ESL + Business Instructor | Aston American University
There are people who would like to go to a big university to study and be with 20,000-30,000 other people for 4 years. However, many of us don’t realize just how hard that really is on an individual. A lot of students “get lost” in college because they have never been in such a situation and have to live on their own. Learning to live on your own and pushing yourself to do your schoolwork is not as easy as it sounds. When you have parents looking over your shoulders and repeatedly reminding you to do your coursework, or even being contacted by teachers updating you on your progress and behavior – it is much easier to stay on the correct path.
Another thing is, many students usually take out student loans to pay for college so that they don’t have to pay for school right away. It is reasonable to assume that students would take learning at a university a little more seriously if they had to pay thousands of dollars up front before starting. I have never really thought about the cost of attending a university until I finished school and had to start paying my student loans off. But I believe this to be somewhat of a contributor to those who end up getting lost while studying at a university.
A couple of weeks ago, I wrote about my journey of obtaining a degree, and I also mentioned the fact that I was “lost” during my first year and half. An individual who read that article recently asked me what I did to “find myself” to get on the correct path while in school. Honestly, I don’t really know what happened, except that maybe, I had an “Aha!” moment or the “light bulb in my brain” turned on. It takes some people time to learn what university life is all about and to get in the so-called “swing of things.” Don’t be afraid to ask friends, professors and administrators for help either. They are there to help you and have also been through this “game” themselves.
Remember, that until you find yourself, you will just be a “grain of sand in a vast desert.”
The best piece of advice I can give you if you are feeling lost as a student: is to find a mentor. Find someone who has been through what you are going through and ask them to put you on the correct path. Most individuals would not turn down the opportunity to be a mentor for somebody. Sometimes just talking to someone can help you find yourself, so don’t be afraid to ask a professor or someone like a graduate student. And don’t forget, Aston American University’s academic advising team will always be happy to hear you out and help you the best they can.
