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Although I have only been in college a little shy of three semesters, I feel as though I have already committed a large number of mistakes. The thing is I wish somebody would have compiled a manual of “Don’t Do’s” and handed it to me before I began college. However, since I never received a copy of this book, I wanted to share some of the biggest regrets and mistakes I have made since being in college and some possible ways to avoid or learn from these situations.
1) Never sign up for things for resume building because you will get bored of it so fast.
As an optimistic freshman, I signed up for everything in the book, and for many of these organizations, I signed up for them because I truly thought they would look fantastic on my resume. But here’s the thing, when you sign up for something you’re really not invested in and passionate about, it shows. All of a sudden attending meetings and events for these organizations seemed like a chore for me, and yet I still kept going because I wanted it on my resume so badly. Then, the time finally came for me to write about it on my resume, and I realized that it was so hard for me to come up with the words to describe it because it truly did not spark that drive within me. Learn from this mistake and only sign up for things you truly desire, because at the end of the day, your passion will translate onto your resume or in an interview, and that passion is the best way to “build” your resume.
2) Find balance (aka don’t take 15 hours of your hardest courses every semester)
Everyone knows that UT is home to some of the brightest and most brilliant individuals. However, being here means you’ve already proven yourself. So don’t feel pressured to prove yourself to your peers. During my freshman year, I sought to do just that, proving to my peers and my professors that I did indeed deserve the right to attend such a prestigious university. My Friday nights consisted of me skipping hangouts with my friends so I could be ahead in my courses, study for exams, or finish homework. I chose to pack my schedule with as many hours of my major-specific courses as I could so that I could get “ahead of the game”. This ultimately led to me experiencing an imminent, fast, and furious burnout. That’s when I realized that it really is all about balance. So from then on I chose to balance my classes with courses outside my major and that decision has led me to discover some of the best and most interesting courses I have ever taken, including the KSWELI Entrepreneurial LeadHERShip class! Furthermore, I began to practice balance in my day-to-day life. I would study and do homework for a few hours and then close my laptop and take an hour break watching TV, reading a book, or eating a meal with friends, doing things that made me authentically happy. At the end of the day balance is everything, and an imbalance will lead to an imminent tipping point. So find that balance early and implement smart, healthy choices. They will carry you far.
3) Find the things that give you genuine happiness (I know what that even entail?)
Oh, happiness. The single thing most people desire in life but never know how to fulfill. Some people find it in money, their career, or hobbies, but regardless of what brings you happiness, it's important to find the things that bring you small wins of happiness in college. How do you even know if something makes you happy? When you’re in the process of doing something that makes you truly happy, time really does just pass by as if it’s nothing, the ultimate state of “flow,” as described by positive psychology. Whether this is just taking a short walk through campus, eating lunch with a peer, or dishing to your best friend about life, find the moments that truly make you happy. I have found that in some of my toughest moments, the way for me to find happiness is to sing along to the Queen of Country Pop, Shania Twain’s “Man! I Feel Like a Woman!”. So whether it’s something as quirky and fun as a sing-along or as productive as a nature walk, find the moments in life that put you in your state of flow and stick to them!
About The Author:
Riana Pinto '25
Biochemistry
Entrepreneurial LeadHERship Student
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