There is a good reason that many people reminisce about college as the time when they were learning about the world and their future professions. However many people also have regrets about college that sometimes run very deep and can often shape the life you still have ahead of you.

I’ll tell you about some of the mistakes I’ve made, and the regrets that came with them. While some of them might be minor in your eyes, they still keep me awake at night every once in a while.

1. Choosing the wrong college

There is a lot to be said about choosing a major that suits you the most. People sometimes apply for a major that keeps them close to their family or friends, often neglecting personal dreams and trying to fit in instead.

I was one of those people who choose to attend a university close to my hometown instead of gathering the strength to go a bit further. Living far from home is something that people should definitely go through in their 20s so that they are ready for adult life after graduating. While the university I choose gave me adequate knowledge, I never felt like a college student – more like a semi-high school student who still lived at home.

2. Staying in too often

People go out and have fun while they are in college. It’s more of a stress-relief than anything else. While I did enjoy having the company of my peers and college friends, I often preferred to stay inside and study or read a book.

This caused me to miss a lot of the inside jokes, memories and events that my colleagues attended. I was in no way under house arrest or lacked the money to go out – I simply didn’t feel like it. If I could change one of the things I regret from those days, it would be to go out a bit more than I used to.

3. Not traveling enough

One of the things that college does emphasize is traveling the world and seeing new things. While the curriculums were often so densely packed that we didn’t know what day it was, there was always time to breathe and go someplace new.

People around me often went abroad or simply traveled the country in order to find out more about their own place of birth. Like I’ve said before, I was more of a stay-inside type of girl in those days. Believe me when I tell you, there is far less time to go around and explore when you have a full-time job.

4. Not managing money properly

You might be familiar with the ever-present struggle with money if you are a college student yourself. While the jokes are getting older by the day, the fact of the matter is that students do make ends meet with relatively small amounts of pocket money.

I myself was guilty of poorly managing the money I had, since I often ordered or bought things I didn’t really need. It was more about owning those clothes or books than actually using them daily. If I could go back, I would manage my money in a more responsible way and create a savings account right then and there.

5. Not enough practical experience

It’s true that employers want experience and responsibility from their potential candidates. It’s hard to show any if you are fresh out of college, something I had to learn the hard way.

Going on an internship or volunteering during the summer is a great way to boost your future resume and learn something practical along the way. It will make your employment chances that much better once you start looking for actual work. While I did struggle with convincing my current boss that I am a responsible adult, the lack of any real-world experience in my resume did hurt my chances of employment.

In the end

It all comes down to what makes you happy. I enjoyed every moment of being inside and reading about imaginary lands or simply listening to music and drawing.

While it did make me regret certain things, it also made me realize what makes me feel alive and positive about myself. Avoid regrets as much as you can and dip your toes into new experiences any chance you get.

Alaine Gordon is young and talented content manager at https://essays.solutions/. She has been writing professionally since 2010 about almost everything,  from psychology and to finance. Alaine Gordon graduated from the University of Colorado with her B.A. in Journalism, 2011. She is an open-minded, creative person who loves to make people smile. Her credo is ‘Life is a fun enterprise’. In her free time she loves traveling, reading science fiction and knitting. Her huge dream is to visit every single country in the world.