Have fun and visit new places in NYC, like the Highline on the Lower West Side. Samuel Joseph/The Ram
By Gabriel Garcia
As a senior at Fordham, I find it difficult to imagine what life will be like a year from now. No more eating appetizing breakfasts at the Marketplace, no more pulling all-nighters to study for a big test, and no more living the life of a college student. Well, who am I kidding? I’ll get over the mouthwatering pancakes and tests. As for campus life, I can say for sure that I’ll definitely miss it.
In writing this article, I wanted to do something differently; I wanted to write about the things I’ve done, which I believe have prepared me for life after college. Listed below are three tips outlining how I best utilized my time in college to get ready for what awaits me outside of 441 East Fordham Road.
1. Be active! On top of class, find something that you’re passionate about and pursue it.
Aside from being part of The Fordham Ram’s business staff, I’m also involved with different organizations on campus, including Ascend, International Community of Fordham and Fordham Career Ambassadors. My advice for underclassmen is to start early. As a freshman or sophomore, it’s important to focus on your interests and participate in club discussions and meetings. Not only will you be meeting people with the same aspirations, but you will also be improving your knowledgebase and foundation of certain subject areas.
2. Read.
This one’s self-explanatory, but I thought I’d add it in anyway. I know in college we’re all very busy and don’t have much time for anything outside of schoolwork, but I can’t help stress how important reading is. When I was a junior, I made it a point to read one book a week. I’d choose titles that interested me and read in between classes as well as before going to bed. The habit of reading really improved my comprehension of topics I was interested in and made me a more well-informed individual. Aside from books, I also read the Wall Street Journal on a day-to-day basis. Even if I wasn’t able to read the entire paper, I’d read enough to know what is happening around the United States and internationally.
3. Don’t forget to have fun.
My third tip is probably the easiest one to follow. Fun can be anything. From sports to exploring New York City and to trying different types of food, it really depends on what you like to do in your spare time. For instance, my friends and I set-up annual fantasy football and basketball leagues and compete against each other in order to attain the best season record. We also make it a point to get dinner together every once in a while and try different types of food. In the end, I think it is important to leave time for things that you like to do. When you’re happy, everything else follows and you start to find meaning and purpose in your daily life.
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Juan Gabriel Garcia is the Assistant Business Director for The Fordham Ram.
