College Daze

Yesterday I visited the local university here in Pensacola, UWF (University of West Florida).  I drove onto the campus for the first time ever.  It is located only twenty minutes from where I live.  My daughter Vivian was not with me (thankfully) but happily playing with friends at the mother's day out program she attends once a week.  Therefore, I decided to visit UWF's library and borrow a few books on the history of my new community.  My plan is to pick up on the "Find Roots, Plant Seeds" challenge I mentioned in May but cancelled due to my gallbladder removal surgery. 


Trying to maneuver my way around the grounds reminded me of just how old and out of touch I am with college students.  I can hardly believe it has been ten years since I graduated from college.  As I looked around at the few kids strolling the sidewalks, I thought to myself.... These kids look so young!  Yeah I said that.  I called them kids and young.  They barely looked eighteen to me.  Yet I, on the other hand, did not blend in as a typical student  anymore even though I wore a t-shirt, blue jean shorts and tennis shoes.  No, I looked and felt old.  I even had to ask the librarian (twice) to help me log onto the computer so I could look up a few books I wanted to borrow. 


Pensacola's college campus was bigger than the one I attended - Southeastern Louisiana University in Hammond, Louisiana.  My school didn't even have a football team when I went there.  You could walk across the campus within a few minutes and didn't need a car or bicycle to get around.  It was a mostly commuter college; therefore it was mostly a ghost town on Fridays and weekends while I was there.  The community was small but friendly.


As I purused the shelves of UWF, I began to wonder what my life might be like now if I had done things differently in college....  What if I had attended a different university?  What if I had majored in an alternative subject? What if I had joined the dance team or a sorority?  What if I had dated more?  What if I had partied more?  What if I had participated in an internship? 


What if..... What if.....?  I don't know why I ask myself these kinds of questions but I do.


Walking around on university grounds yesterday made me a little sad that my experiences are over.  That I didn't do more with my time in school.   I attended summer semester twice in college just so I could graduate quicker.  I mean... really?  What in the hell was I thinking?  Why was I in such a hurry to finish?  I didn't even have a plan or a job lined up after I graduated!  So why did I want those mostly no-responsibility days to end?


In fact, I majored in English.  I have a Bachelor of Arts in English.  But I didn't want to teach.  I didn't take the journalism route.  So really.... what was I thinking?   I had no direction. 


With no emphasis and no speciality, I settled into a desk job as a secretary for the start of my career.  Eventually that led me to a few jobs in Human Resources, then some in Marketing, all doing some form of Communications.  I usually wrote the company newsletters and did some form of creative writing each place that I went.  I had a few great experiences and made some wonderful friends in the different professions.  Now I'm a stay at home mom.  I know I'll return to work eventually but I'm not sure what I will be doing or what I even want to do. 


Did college prepare me for the real world?  Does anything really prepare you? 


My husband Kirk attended college a few semesters but never finished.  He hasn't (yet) attained a degree.  But frankly he hasn't needed one (yet).  Kirk stumbled upon a few great work opportunities in his early twenties.  Then those jobs evenutally led him on a career path that he reigns king in now, in the Information Technology world.   He still randomly receives job offers and notices because of the background he's had and the certifications that he's attained.  He was/is lucky.  Kirk landed in the right place at the right time.  He will even tell you that. 


I do have a degree but I didn't have those career interests or find those life-changing jobs in the way that Kirk did.  I wasn't as smart as I should have been while attending my university.  I didn't ask the right questions or take more time to soul search what I wanted to do in my life after those school daze days. 


But it wasn't a total waste of money I suppose.  (Dad, if you're reading this, I'm not paying you back for tuition!)  I did gain some new insights.  I did experience that melting pot culture that you're exposed to when surrounded by people from all walks of life.   I  did meet some of the most wonderful people that influenced me in many ways, that made me look at myself in a whole new light (for the better).


So even though I didn't (and still don't) know what I want to be when I grow up,  I suppose those days in college did bring me closer to finding out.  Or maybe, just maybe, I'll always be a student in the course of life.....  Is anyone hiring a professional, full-time student? 



Did you attend college?  If so, what did you major in?  Do you think schools prepare kids for the work force?  Share any insights you have from your college experience or days.