Column by Wesley Robinson

It is no secret that we come to college to learn. The mission of any higher-education institution is to prepare its students for “the real world,” giving us a greater level of skills in order to reach higher rungs of social arrival. We pay to go to college so that we may earn a degree that says we have met the prerequisites for our particular field of interest, giving us an irrevocable qualification.

Because of this, many of us come here so focused on academics and getting good grades that we miss everything else college has to offer. Some miss socializing, some miss involvement, and, finally, there is a group that misses getting the real tools necessary for life after graduation.

Those who don’t regularly socialize miss out on the most enjoyable part of college. No one wants to spend the first few years of independence studying at the library. Playing video games or talking with friends from home are not good ways to spend your free time, especially with parties, games and other activities going on. The most enduring adult friendships and relationships come about during college. These would be a shame to miss out on for any reason.

Student involvement goes a long way in preparing students for the real world, and it’s impossible to get involved in the campus community without being social. By not being involved, you may miss out on things that captivate your interest. Spending time studying and relaxing is nice, but joining clubs and groups that interest you provides an avenue for any student to determine if they truly enjoy something.

So if you are interested in politics, what better way to gauge your interest than participating in Student Government or one of the college political party groups? Or if you have a drive for diversity and inclusion, try the NAACP. If the environment is your thing, visit Greenthumb every now and then. This way, if you like or dislike what you see, you have used a resource that can inform you without screwing up your transcript or taking up a career that you may constantly regret in the future.

Finally, the most valuable tool a student cannot miss out on is internships or other professional training provided to students. Such experience is even more in-depth than student involvement — and internships are frequently paid. It may not be as well compensated as doing the real thing, but getting a foot in the door for a career with a prospective employer more than adequately provides connections and specific job-related experience.

After interning, in addition to having the opportunity to impress your prospective boss with your résumé, work ethic, knowledge and college course-related experience, you have a valuable network of professionals who you can ask for advice, draw from their experience and wisdom, and utilize as references in your quest for a fulfilling job. A student also now knows how to do the job they aspire to do and has added a notch to his or her résumé which further signifies the hard work and effort that the student is willing to put into the field.

Obviously we want to grow as people in college. Part of this is learning about our field of interest. But it is more important to have the complete collegiate experience. Having the necessary social skills and being involved in the right organizations can start you down the right path. Internships and work experiences take you even farther down that path and show that you are able to do more than just study. I am not advocating an irresponsible non-academic lifestyle, but rather recognizing that learning extends far out of the classroom and cannot always be measured by grades.