My college life was much like anybody else's, class bunks, fun, drama, heartbreaks etc. I had taken up my course (which was a 5-year integrated course) out of parental pressure. Although I was one of the top scorers of my department but that didn't mean that I had magically developed any liking towards the subjects. Civil engineering never made sense to me, it still doesn't, and I have a masters in it lol. 

All I remember from my college life are the good old memories of friends and pulling off one nighters before the exam or let's say, the D-Day so the false pretense of me having my life all figured out is still maintained. But there is a bunch of stuff I wish I had rather done: 

Change my specialization: 

To be honest, I honestly wish I hadn't surrendered to my parents and pursued what I actually enjoyed : Maths. Even a small nudge, a guidance could've helped me figure it out. But I had none.

Finances: 

This is something all of need to talk about. I have learned more about finance from online speakers and youtubers than from my family and friends, which honestly is a little dubious. I wish I was taught about savings and investments and taxes, and I hope our generation does a better job at this than our parents'. 

Make a plan of action: 

I've learned from my mistakes, the best way that I possibly could. Something that every college student needs to prepare is a plan of action, regardless of which year they are currently in. I was blindly taking up courses and learning things that don't help me anymore, all of them centered either towards civil engineering or learning skills for private jobs, towards which I've developed unliking. I wish I had a plan figure out in my college life of what to do in the following years, and college placement should never be the only plan. I should've prepared a Plan B. 

Using food as coping mechanism: 

I suffer from anxiety, which means that the fact that I can't predict my future today bums me out. But I wish I wasn't fuelling this anxiousness in my college days. I used to have junk food whenever I got sad, because I deserve that after a bad day, right? Wrong. Instead of resorting to some sort of coping mechanism, I wish I was suggested by anyone, to focus on my mental health and do things that help me be in control. Food shouldn't be a punishment or a reward. All of us need a long term solution, or to face the problem head on, so we stop thinking about it day in and day out. 

So those were some things I just needed to get out of my system. Even if it helps one person it'd make my day. But in the end, always remember that it's never too late to start afresh. I'm doing it right now, so if even you aren't content with how things have been, it's your sole decision to continue going or change your path, don't let anyone influence you otherwise. 

R.