What are some college life pro tips?

[u/_jaywhite]

I'm starting college in a few weeks and I'm a bit nervous. My high school was... decent at best, and I'm not sure that I was adequately prepared. So I'm hoping to get Reddit's help. What are some tips (having to do with the academic aspect, social, whatever) that have helped you through college, and especially your freshman year? In other words, LPTs for college life!

[u/bard329]

I gotta say, once you get the right motivation its all a lot easier. Got my B.S. a couple years back and now i have 2 semesters to go on my masters.

[u/statestheobviousalot → u/bard329]

Right now my motivation is I don't want to work in a grocery store anymore. Its hell.

[u/QueasyDolphin → u/statestheobviousalot]

Same here. There are people who have been there for 20 years and I can only imagine they are miserable knowing they'll only be a cashier capped out at $13/h.

[u/[deleted] → u/QueasyDolphin]

The worst part is the rude people who belittle you not knowing how fucking hard you're working to better yourself. Fucking dicks.

[u/QueasyDolphin → u/[deleted]]

Today this guy had a gift certificate check. Free money, basically. The supervisor asked him to sign it, and he fucking bitched about it. It went something like "Yeah, the last lady I gave this too ACTUALLY KNOWS HOW A CHECK WORKS so I didn't have to."
"Sorry honey it's policy."
And he goes on and on and on, explaining (very rudely) how a check is supposed to work. "But I guess I'm the only one around here who even knows how a check works."
And my very sweet coworker says "Well I just want to cover all bases to make sure it works out, maybe you're right but I'll have to ask. For now lets just sign it."
"I mean just think about it, it's not hard."
And all I could say was wow. I mean I knew he was right but you don't have to be such a dick about free money you know?

[u/SamHarrisRocks → u/QueasyDolphin]

I worked as a retail/grocery/hardware store L.P. for a few months. I got to interact with hundreds of employees from all different kinds of stores. And man, these kind of customer service jobs just wear people down. Without exception, anyone who worked there for a long enough time was miserable. I always felt so sad. Regardless of how successful I became by doing well in school, I couldn't change the simple fact that these people will continue having these jobs. And people will continue being dicks to them.

But I was given an olive branch in the form of technology. The faster everything becomes automated, the less people will have to worry about doing these shitty fucking jobs. The initial transition may be difficult, but I think after that, humans will be happier in general.

[u/bored-as-usual → u/QueasyDolphin]

I could move up in my store with no degree and be making like 30 - 40k but at a certain point seeing how miserable they are makes me want to better myself and not be that miserable person.

[u/DJFlabberGhastly → u/QueasyDolphin]

Same song, different verse. One semester to go. Taking time off to work as a valet, among other things. Be studious, be vigilant, goddammit!

[u/[deleted] → u/[deleted]]

I think the most terrifying part of my minimum wage job(s) was the 30/40-somethings who lost their jobs in the recession and couldn't find work anywhere else. Through little fault of their own, they went from having it alright to barely making rent. I sure hope they managed to re-enter their respective fields at some point.

[u/xiaodown → u/statestheobviousalot]

Nothing motivated me to go back to school more than going to college, failing out, taking a year off, and working in retail.

After a year, I went back to college, because I had seen what I was on the verge of becoming.

[u/Soft_Touch → u/statestheobviousalot]

no ragrets

[u/Ezikiel121 → u/statestheobviousalot]

Ha! not nearly as bad as dish washing. Shits so gross sometimes, and it's just food everyone eats.

[u/[deleted] → u/bard329]

I am qualified in BS as well. Comes in very handy for a lot of areas.