As I begin my college journey, this essay question offers a wonderful opportunity to reflect upon what I aspire to accomplish and learn from my college experience beyond obtaining a degree. I must admit that I am excited about enrolling in the Carlson School of Management at the University of Minnesota and dreaming big about the places that I believe I can eventually go with a degree in hand. However, it is also interesting to ponder how much broader this college experience can be and to consider all of the other skills I hope to master before I enter the “real world.”
The first issue I will likely encounter and hopefully master over time is what it means to live independently. For most of us, after being under the watchful eye of our parents for the last 18 years, the idea of being out on our own holds great appeal, but at the same time creates an equally high level of fear and apprehension. Having been completely cared for from our humble first steps as an infant through walking the stage at our high school graduation, we may soon realize that we are ill-prepared to be on our own at a college campus. We will quickly need to learn to cook, clean, and care for ourselves.
Beyond that, there are certainly other skills that I believe I will acquire along the way. Another lesson I hope to learn is time management. I had a very structured schedule throughout high school, but a majority of this planning was done for me. Outside of that structure and oversight, college will likely