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Here’s something I loved about college – I was on my own to make decisions about my future.
Here’s something I hated about college – I was on my own to make decisions about my future.
While I wasn’t interested in following a blueprint, or doing exactly what other people did, a little guidance in preparing for life after school would have been a major help.
Thankfully, the internet exists to help young adults in the areas where some colleges fail.
This article from TED Ideas of the 7 things everyone should do while they’re in college that can help them in the future is the perfect example.
They spoke to entrepreneur and founder of Way Up, Liz Wessel, about preparing for life after higher education. Way Up is a US-based job site for college students and recent grads.
“I have too many friends who have graduated from school after spending hundreds of thousands of dollars on their education, after spending four years of their life, if not more … and then they come and they tell me how much they regret not doing something [during college],” says Wessel in a TEDxRutgers talk.
Even if you’re not in college, and already have a job, many of the suggestions should still be put into action.
Here are my four favorite tips from Wessel’s talk.
1. Find The 5 People You Can Count On
Hang around with losers, you’ll be a loser. Hang out with successful people, and well, you know what can and will happen.
“Befriend five people who you would bet on … If you’re truly friends after you graduate, they’re gonna help you and you’re gonna help them.”By “bet on,” this doesn’t mean they must all be future-Time-magazine-cover material; rather, they’re people you like and admire and seem to be on a trajectory to make their mark on the world.
Through your life, they’ll also serve as your personal board of directors, or legion of superheroes.”
2. Send Out Cold Emails
Because you just never know.
“Think about someone you’d really like to meet — maybe it’s a distinguished alumna of your college, a writer whose work has changed your outlook, or a person who is a pioneer in an industry you’re curious about.
Then, find their email address (“there are a million tricks and hacks on how to do it online,” says Wessel), and start a conversation with them.
The worst they can do is say no or ignore you.
3. Take A Class
I realize this sounds crazy since people literally just left school, but there’s a good chance a majority of graduating students didn’t get to take interesting classes outside their major.
Either it didn’t fit into their schedule, or it wasn’t offered at school, whatever the reason, now is the time to take a practical class that will help down the road.
While Wessell truly enjoyed studying the subjects she majored and minored in — political science, Japanese and math — one elective she took has proven to be surprisingly beneficial.
She says, “That one graphic design class has helped me in my day-to-day life more than all of my other classes combined.”
For Wessell’s WayUp cofounder, it was a negotiation class he took in college. Now, she says, “he’s the guy who negotiates when we get term sheets from venture capital funds.”
If there are no classes of interest, pick up a new hobby. Especially one that encourages meeting new and different people.
4. Just Start Something
Finally, the last suggestion is the most important.
Start something. Anything.
Wessell realized she was an entrepreneur in college, and she doubts she would have started WayUp if she hadn’t launched a business as an undergrad when she was 19.There are so many kinds of things you can start — while it could be a business, it might be an extracurricular club, a publication, a public-service drive or campaign, a film series, a TEDx event (apply here), or anything else you can dream up.
The business or idea will probably fail, or you’ll get too busy, or you’ll just stop caring. But what if none of those things happen?
It’s better to fail and learn than never try.
Wessel has a few more suggestions, and all are worth the old “college try.”
[via TED Ideas]
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Chris Illuminati is a 5-time published author and recovering a**hole who writes about success, fitness, parenting and occasionally pro wrestling. Reach out to him on Instagram & Twitter or email chris@brobible.com.