When we start college, we enter a small society. During this time, we must learn to be independent in order to successfully adapt to social life after graduation.
Being independent is a vital skill set for those who want to take more control over their lives. Independence allows us to do whatever we want, regardless of what others think. It will also lead us to some unconventional problem-solving solutions. As we gain independence and take responsibility for our lives, we may feel happy and satisfied.
First, we must learn to be independent in our daily lives. Some of us rely on our parents before entering college because we have been "the apple of their eyes" and have been encouraged to focus solely on studying with less interference from family chores. As a result, we can barely manage our daily lives. According to a People's Daily online report, 88.6 percent of parents admitted to being overly protective. Most of them now regret denying their children the opportunity to grow up independently. Now that we are away from our parents in college, our reliance on them diminishes, and we are on our own in dealing with various chores. Living an organized life requires planning. This will save us from frustrations brought by things like food, clothing, personal hygiene, and so on. Many of these activities are budget-related. So, we must be prudent in our spending. Learning to make a budget is the first step towards becoming independent.
Second, we must learn to be independent in our academic endeavors. Academics are the most important aspect of college life. We have a long list of classes to attend. However, not all courses are created equal. So, we should define our course objectives, or what is and is not a major course. Thus, we can adopt the appropriate approach to each course. We can improve our learning efficiency if we are properly motivated. We must develop a plan for each course to determine how much time and energy we will devote to the course and how much we will achieve in that course. We must also evaluate ourselves on a regular basis after completing the course. Consequently, we gain independence in our studies.
Third, learn to think independently. College is an excellent setting in which we hone our critical thinking abilities. We mature as we age, and our perspective broadens as we gain experience and become more grounded in reality. We no longer judge things in terms of right or wrong. We begin to consider things from various angles, such as whether they are right or wrong or whether there is something in between. We gradually realize that life is so complex that even the most basic questions do not always have straightforward answers. Our lives are also complicated, but the most important aspect is that we form our own judgments on the things around us and are not easily swayed by the opinions of others. Our viewpoint reflects our mindset, value, and criteria.
Overall, college is the final stage for the young generation to become independent. We, college students, must seize this rare opportunity to become independent, because independence is the ultimate goal of all humans.