Play the Student Card
Maximizing Time and Opportunities in Your College Years.
I’ve spent a lot of my time in the university setting pretending to be older than I am. I guess I just thought that being the best student meant acting like a professional. So I adjusted.
Then it hit me that I’ll lose my Amazon Prime discount in April.
And that’s not the only thing that will no longer be available after graduation. Free printing, direct instruction from professors,, scholarship money…it all just goes *poof.* Above it all, though, is the ability to claim the status of “student:” the permission to freely wonder about topics you don’t understand, the universal respect from experienced professionals, the silent camaraderie formed with peers from anywhere.
I’m happy to kiss goodbye to these past years’ chaotic lack of structure or the stress that seems to throw its arms around my neck and hang on for months at a time, but I sure am going to miss calling myself a student. So I’ve committed to spending these last few months of my college career doing just what any student should: naming it and claiming it. I invite you to do the same.
Say, “I don’t know what to do here,” Out Loud.
In week three of my corporate internship this summer I had a one-on-one with a manager with decades of experience at the company. Halfway through the call, he asked me a question about the company, but I had no clue what he was asking me. I fumbled my way into silence.
He immediately jumped in, “You’re the intern! You don’t know what’s going on. Ask questions!”
It’s not that I never expected someone to say these things to me, I just didn’t expect them to be cheered at me so gleefully. They were an invitation, not a reprimand.
I think about that interaction often. Why does my PR-polished brain incline me to finagle my way out of conversations instead of admitting I’m lost? What if I just said, “Hang on, I learned that word years ago and forgot what it means. Can you tell me?” Society has a lot of grace for students, moreso for those who are eager to grow and hungry for skills outside their comfort zone. Take advantage of it! The intersection of confidence and humility is rare, but if you can nail that, you’ve got big things ahead.
2. Explore.
There are many opportunities available to students that seem to dissipate as you shed the student label. I think of all the resources I’ve found through GVSU’s Career Center, the Office of Undergraduate Research and Scholarship, mentor matching programs through WMPRSA or the Cook Leadership Academy, and even the practical experiences of GrandPR and PRSSA.
We complain a lot about the hefty price tag that comes with our student title, but that price affords us a slew of benefits. It would be irresponsible to not take advantage of as many as we can, provided we have the energy and space to invest in them. (There’s a reason all those resources are linked. Check them out!)
I’ve been able to travel internationally this year and experience university settings in Central America and Europe. It really is crazy the opportunities that are placed in our laps as students in our context. So treat this time as your smorgasbord! Get a taste of as much as you can, and don’t be afraid to hop to the next table if you don’t love the options on your plate.
3. Find a Mentor.
This one deserves its own post. Or a book, really. I can’t overstate the value of strong mentor figures. We students are in the perfect position to be “poured into.” And there are so many people, be they just a few years down the line or with decades of experience, who are overflowing with wisdom, knowledge, and skills they want to pour out.
While both sides of mentorship – personal and professional – have been immensely helpful to me, I really push my peers to find a personal mentor, one who aligns with your values and can challenge you on the deep stuff. This feels daunting, especially if you have nobody in mind. But here’s the thing: no one has ever been angry that they got asked to be a mentor. In fact, many people who would be excellent mentors are also searching for the right person to invest in. All you have to do is ask. What’s the worst thing that can happen? You accidentally flatter somebody? We have to be willing to put ourselves out there to grow.
An Identity Shift
I’ll close with this warning: finding the perfect career and joining the right clubs are exciting, but don’t forget what being a student means. You’re here to learn. Turn down opportunities if they don’t feel right. Spend that time exploring, asking questions, and finding the people and activities that fill you up. Embrace the title of Learner above that of Student. Something tells me that will set us up for a whole lot more success.
Brady is a senior at Grand Valley State University. He is a huge people person, passionate about anything that gets him interacting with, learning about, or entertaining others. He studies Advertising and Public Relations and Public and Nonprofit Administration with a French minor. One day, he hopes to work in international communications or public administration.