College is a totally different change in lifestyle.
There is more freedom, no one nagging at you to do something, and there is no curfew. As a freshman, I've learned that I have to take care of myself, make my own decisions and get my work done.
In high school the teachers were always making sure you were getting your assignments in and telling you to get this or that done. In college, some of the professors don't care about your work load or if you get your work done.
In high school you would spend so much time with the teachers that they grew to become a friend, not just a teacher. You got to know them on a personal level; some of my professors in college don't even know my name.
That is what I miss most about high school. I miss the relationships I gained between the student and teachers.
I graduated from Jersey Shore Area High School and I met some amazing people during my four years there.
I was involved in the music department and I was editor-in-chief of the school newspaper.
I got to know my chorus and English teacher to the point that I could trust them with anything.
I wouldn't call myself a teacher's pet, but I would spend my free time in their room, talking to them.
They would take time out of their day to talk to me and see what's going on in my life. They would even stop what they were doing to help me with schoolwork.
In college some of my professors wouldn't know who I was if I passed them on the street. I never know where they are when I need them and the only time to meet with them is during their office hours.
Email is the only way to get in contact with them if you have to.
Teachers in high school would constantly nag about getting makeup work in. In college there is no such thing as makeup work.
You get assignments in the beginning of the semester and they expect you to remember to have them done when they're due, sometimes it could be month away.
If you don't get it done, then you get a zero.
I wish the professors in college were more demanding for your work.
There is so much in college to distract you that sometimes you totally forget about the paper due in a few hours.
One night I went mudsliding in the pouring rain when I should have been reading a chapter for my one class so I knew what was going on the next day in class.
Don't get distracted from your work because you have to do it! It's up to you to get it done.
Another thing was teachers gave you all the information you would need for your tests and quizzes in class.
In a lot of my classes at college you are responsible for looking up the information and reading the chapters to understand what will be on your tests.
If you needed help during the quiz, some of the teachers in high school would just give you a hint to the correct answer; in college, you are lucky if you get to ask questions during a quiz.
High school teachers tried to help you to the best of their abilities but not once you get to college.
Everything is up to you, what you do and when you do it is all up to you.
Everyone always said college is the best experience of a lifetime and I love it more than I thought I would. I made amazing friends, we call ourselves a family, and I love my classes. I'm majoring in public relations and I really enjoy my classes for that as well.
I love being about to stay awake as long as I want, I can go out whenever I want, and I can do whatever I want, to an extent.
The only thing I miss is my mom's home-cooked meals, because college food is disgusting.
Hope you like chicken, because that's what you're going to be living off of. I miss my high school friends and I miss my family, but the college life is worth it because it's a blast.
Enjoy high school as long as you can because those are some memories I never want to forget. Make some amazing memories, unforgettable friends, and be a teacher's pet!
I've gone to my old teachers for help in college because I know that I can trust them and they wouldn't second guess helping me.
Thomas is a student in Dan Mason's class at Mansfield University.
