You’ll Always Regret Graduating Early

PortlandPledgeHazers7 years ago

“College will be the best four years of your life.”

That phrase has been uttered by parents and alumni for a millennium. College is a time of growth and learning across all disciplines. Whether it’s learning about the most effective means of “studying” for on an exam or the sweet spot on your skull for cavemaning beers, your time in this social incubator is critical in your development becoming a semi-tolerable human being in the real world.

One phrase which I am almost certain has never been spoken, however, is “College will be the best three to three and a half years of your life.” I don’t know what it is, but for some incoherent reason, there is a growing number of students taking the fast track to graduation.

They have different excuses of taking a year off to travel the world before their career or simply just wanting to jump head first into the cold corporate world. You know what’s way more enjoyable than traveling the world as a lonely post-grad? Traveling the world with a group of your closest undergrad friends with questionable morals while reaffirming every American stereotype along the way. As far as getting a headstart in your career, that is just lunacy. Assuming you graduate at 22 and aren’t granted a hefty inheritance from mom and dad you’ll have at least 43 years of working ahead of you, so why tack on another year? I understand wanting to get out quickly in order to avoid facing more student debt but the truth is if you’re a good enough student to graduate before four years you’re probably also a good enough candidate for a pretty decent career in the future. So why not enjoy every last second of mere eight semesters?

These are the most ridiculous years of your life. Sure you’re technically there for an education that many Americans would kill to attain, but the wild extracurriculars are what separate college from every other period of your life. At no other point in your life will you have the freedom to go to class for about 2 hours a day, work a kushy job for some extra money to put towards liquor and vacations, and spend the entire time in between swooning coeds and gassing beers.

It is truly beyond me why any logical person would ever opt out of these wild times. Enjoy it while it lasts. Stop looking ahead and cherish it, you fools..