The College Experience

~ MaryG
Daily writing prompt
What experiences in life helped you grow the most?
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For me, there was no greater growth experience than college. The college experience is like no other. The sheer number of new people and new ideas you’re exposed to in a short timeframe is bound to change even the most “set in their ways” 18-year old.

I was lucky my parents paid the bills and my college had no core requirements whatsoever, so I could take whatever classes I wanted—from poetry to Russian history. (Amazingly, I didn’t take a single science class.) Throw in my semester abroad, internships, guest speakers, drug experimentation, and a winter trip to the Soviet Union, and it really was a mind-expanding time for me.

Hanging out in college: my roommates Ann and Carla and other friends in our on-campus apartment in 1984 or 85. The three of us shared one bedroom, but we had a nice living room and a kitchen.

It’s sad that the liveaway college experience has become so expensive and debt-producing. It’s not fair. I think the four-year model needs to go. Three years of college is plenty, and would be significantly cheaper. “Uni” – as they call it in the UK – is only three years. I mean, maybe a few select majors (like Engineering) need four years, but everyone else (Liberal Arts, Fine Arts, Business, etc.) could be done in three.

Speaking of the college experience, we went to see One Love, the Bob Marley biopic, based on DanLovesFilm’s recommendation (American critics be damned) and I had fun. There are definitely some weaknesses in the script and I had a hard time understanding the Jamaican/Rastafarian accent, but the music is the music and it’s great. Marley is played by Kingsley Ben-Adir and he’s 🔥

Kingsley Ben-Adir as Bob Marley

So, GenX: I recommend you have yourself a cocktail or a weed gummy (or both) and go see One Love. You’ll have a good time jamming in your theater seat to one of our key college soundtracks.

Related posts:

Legend

College: 80s edition

Semester Abroad

Back in the USSR

Ralph Nader

17 thoughts on “The College Experience”

  1. So true! I marched on TV drunk as a skunk on Purple Passion…90%grain alcohol soaked in a dorm watermelon carcass overnight for the football game! Walked to the field with another in my hand. I actually watched the first half. Then, at halftime…..Still tipsy and flinging a flag!
    Afterwards, the conductor came and told me my performance was perfect! Well, other than being a half beat behind! I grew. I learned to know my wares…LOL!

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      1. It was unlike me, but I had a bad cold. Whew, I felt better! Was a rifle captain in HS…glad I switched to flags for college or I could be missing an eye! Thanks for the memory spark!

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    1. Yes, it was an exciting, optimistic time in Russia, shortly before the Berlin Wall came down. It makes today’s Russia that much more disappointing. RIP Navalny. Thanks for your comment Chris!

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  3. Great post! There is no other time like the college years. When I think of Marley, it reminds me of making our college home brew with my friends. We had Marley blasting as we stirred barley and hops. Thanks for the movie recommendation. I’ll have to check it out!

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