#4 Get Out There!

Our final tip on how to succeed in college:

Get out there!

Wouldn't it suck to work so hard to get into college, spend all this money on books and tuition, and then have a crappy experience? Here's the thing. College is what you make of it. It can be an exhilarating, life-altering experience, or it can be lame, or it can be a source of lots of anxiety and frustration. My advice: Get out there.

A. Find your People: Find your people, find your tribe, maybe even find the love of your life! But you won't experience that until you get out there and meet people.

I know this can be incredibly challenging if you are an introvert, shy or have social anxiety, but you can do this too! Getting out there doesn't mean you need to be the life of the party or the loudest person in the room. Sometimes (and oftentimes) all you have to do is show up! Go to the game, go to the pep rally, the pizza party, the bible study, whatever...just go! Step #2 is say "Hello" Introduce yourself to a lot of people. If you're an introvert or have anxiety, a lot of people may be 2 or 3. Thats fine. Do it. You may have to force yourself to go and it may be the most challenging thing on your to-do list today, but do it anyway. You'll be surprised at the amazing people you will meet and the connections you will make. And sure, you will meet some duds. You're welcome to walk away and never talk to them again! Just be nice when you do.

B. Find your Passion. Even if you have a challenging workload, there is a club or activity on campus for everyone. Maybe it has absolutely nothing to do with your major but it gives you a chance to blow off steam or just pure enjoyment. Do it. Take the time to get out there and do something you love or are passionate about. Or just explore it. Even if you suck at it, reward yourself for giving it a shot.

"You miss 100% of the shots you don't take." Wayne Gretzky

College is not just about the books. It's about discovering who you are. So try new things. Try old things. Make new friends. Catch up with old friends. Don't be afraid to get out there! There is someone out there who needs your friendship too! Why deprive the world of the awesome person you are?