The Good and The Bad of College Life: Personal Insights and Reflections

University can be a transformative period in one's life, offering a unique blend of new friendships and academic challenges. In sharing my personal experiences, I aim to encapsulate both the positive and negative aspects that contribute to this time. Here, I discuss the things I most enjoyed about university and the ones I found less favorable, focusing on the pervasive and unpleasant odors that significantly impacted my experience.

The Positives of University Life

One of the most enjoyable aspects of university was meeting people from diverse backgrounds. Oftentimes, college brings together individuals with vastly different experiences, perspectives, and cultures. The interactions with students from all over the world and even from different states can be immensely enriching. There's a special value in forming connections with peers who have lived in various countries and have unique stories to share. This diversity fosters a rich and vibrant campus community, where students can learn from each other and grow intellectually and personally. For some, this could even mean finding a community of fellow enthusiasts, as I did with my druid circle of queers and Wiccans.

The Challenges of University Life

However, not everything was as delightful. Among the many things I hated about university life, the commute and the pervasive smell stand out. When I attended university, the campus was located in a city renowned for its brutalist architecture and an overwhelming scent that could be described as similar to a damp market filled with fish and damp feathers. On days when the smell was particularly strong, it permeated the train and seeped into my clothes, remaining even after I returned home.

The smell was most unbearable when we would sit in large lecture theatres for hours, with group work intensifying the odor. The combination of the smell with the confined space in the train made the commute a particularly unpleasant experience. Fierce deprivation of personal space and the intensity of the smell contributed to a sense of nausea and made it difficult to maintain a positive outlook. It is worth noting that not all students seemed to be affected by this smell, with those residing on campus not experiencing it. This discrepancy was confusing and made social interactions more challenging.

Additional challenges included early morning classes, as well as the constant stream of petty disagreements and the cafeteria running out of beloved meals. These issues, though minor, compounded the overall experience and sometimes hindered the focus on academic goals. Despite these challenges, the shared experience of facing these challenges together certainly helped in building a strong bond within the student community.

A More Positive Perspective

While the smell and commute may have been overwhelming, the opportunity to gain valuable knowledge and skills was truly rewarding. Enrolling in interesting and life-changing courses provided a sense of purpose and direction. The youth of university students, coupled with a shared desire for personal and academic growth, fostered a sense of optimism about future possibilities. College was a time of discovery, where every piece of knowledge gained was a step towards becoming a knowledgeable, articulate, and well-rounded individual.

In conclusion, my university experience was a mix of joy and frustration. While the unique smells and commutes were challenging, the opportunities for personal growth and the connections made with diverse individuals provided a rich and memorable experience that continues to impact me. University life is not just a collection of lectures and assignments but a period of personal evolution and self-discovery.