Getting the Most Out of the COLLEGE EXPERIENCE

Lizzy O'Brien

As a recent graduate from the University of Michigan, I find myself looking back on a story that I thought would never end. Before I even overcame the daunt ing thought of college, my four years were already over. But because college is only this brief moment in time, students need to take full advantage of their academic careers away from home. This does not mean they should pop the cork off some sparkling grape juice and party to no end, but rather discover and explore the rare opportunities around them. To ensure the most rich and rewarding college experience, I would advise students to aim for involvement in these three targets: organi zations on campus, internships, and a study abroad program.

Participating in organizations on campus is pivotal to overcoming one of the largest obstacles for freshman: finding their niche. When I was a freshman entering the collegiate world, I had researched groups on campus and gained a sense of direction before I even moved into the dorms. As a result, I had a plan of action when I arrived, and immediately became involved in two organizations on campus. I was a research assistant in Undergraduate Research Opportunities Program (UROP) and a mem ber of a sorority. Both opportunities helped me integrate in the college community and form a sense of belonging in a world far from home.

After getting involved in organizations on campus and becoming a part of the college community, students can set their sights on the second target: an internship. The four years students have at college present them with the valuable opportunity to explore another city, test a career path, and experience the working life. Internships are like a col legiate luxury; let's face it, when else can we get a job with a three month commitment, just to "try it out?" I made this realization myself upon entering my sophomore year as a wolverine, and so by the fall of that year I had committed to an internship in New York City with a public relations firm. The three years I spent as an intern taught me things that could never be learned in a classroom; I became more street smart, more independent, and learned how to survive the nine to five work day. The experience was more rewarding than I ever could have expected, as it prepared me for the postcollege transition in ways I hadn't realized until just recently.

The final target to achieving an enriched college career is an experience overseas. There are many ways to accomplish this third goal, as study abroad programs are offered year round, and through various universities or independent programs. I personally sought an opportunity outside of my college because it didn't offer the program location and duration I wanted. After doing some research I found an organization which offered a winter semester in Paris, and once again I prepared for an amazing college experience. My time in France is an unparal leled memory; I learned a foreign language, made new friends, experienced a different culture, saw poverty, studied at the Sorbonne, and spent spring break cruising down the Nile. So although my time studying there was a mere four months, Paris will last a lifetime. Armed with these experiences I was ready to take on life after college, because after all, I had leadership skills from the sorority, valu able work experience from the internship, and I could speak another language because I had studied abroad. And as a result, this last spring I graduated from the University of Michigan knowing that I had gotten the most out of my college experience.