The college experience is a time when students obtain the knowledge that will help them throughout life. However, many of these lessons are not taught in a classroom by professors. Through the process of becoming independent individuals or by interactions with other people, FCC students are learning extracurricular truths through college life that they can apply to their lives.
There was a common theme among the information students have gained.
“The biggest thing it taught me is managing my time,” said Kara Benoit, a first-year student at FCC.
She said that owning a car helped guide the decisions she was able to make. Benoit added that one’s high school schedule restricted a person more than college. As a first-year student, this is all the more apparent to her.
“High school was rigid, time wasn’t your own,” Benoit said.
Kaitlin Byrnes said that she has learned how to plan better. “You need an agenda,” Byrnes added. Keeping track of assignments and obligations was also a shared lesson among students, in addition to learning to control the workload.
“I’ve learned not to procrastinate,” said Cole Dutrow. He said that he has also discovered the important role his parents have played in his life, as he has learned a lot from them that school has not taught him. Such sentiments were shared by other students.
“I need my mom,” said Lillie Dean.
However, the merits of relying on oneself were not lost.
“I like being independent,” said Trevor Roberts, who added that he enjoyed being responsible for himself. Dominick Anderson, though, said that newly realized independence is not entirely a good development. Anderson added that it still helps when one’s parents cook for them, among their other contributions.
Another theme of students’ discovery is a shared sense of community, not solely with fellow students but with people in general.
Patrick Guilday said he has found that despite differences with people, one can almost always find similar ground with others.
“I value the difference,” said Kieran Burriss.
The potential for and value of making new friends has been realized by students such as Justin Loberiza and Abigail Moore.
“I found out that everybody’s just as shy as you,” Moore added.
“I’ve become more extroverted, slightly,” said Olivia Dutton. Katie Greene, another student, also said that she has become more social over the course of her college experience.
College is where students go to further their goals and learn to contribute to society, yet often students are unsure of the course they want their lives to take.
Bettina Bienvenida said that she has realized that students frequently do not know what they want to accomplish. Therefore, other students should not feel pressure while discovering their goals.
Daniel Yu-cua, however, said that he has discovered ways to spend one’s life.
“High school doesn’t matter anymore,” Yu-cua said. He added that the rumors and reputations that may have bogged a person down do not carry into college. “You can start again,” added Yu-cua.
Yu-cua also said that by having a hobby that others are interested in and involved with, people have the chance to form bonds and share ideas.
Amidst the lessons in English, Business, Calculus and other subjects, FCC students are discerning other skills that will support them in life. They have learned the significance of time management and gained abilities for social interaction, and therefore, a common lesson learned at the college is discovering how to bring a sense of community to the campus itself.
