5 Things You Won’t Regret Studying During College

By Melissa Burns

College years are a strange mix of wearisome studying process and excessive partying every other night (though in most cases the amount of studies outweighs the fun). However, no matter who you are – a very diligent student or not-so-diligent-at-all, there has to be something more than that. It’s really hard to proceed with self-development during the years after college – there will be internships and full-time jobs, and perhaps family life, so the wise thing for you would be to use up your college years to a maximum. There are at least five things you should study outside the college while you have time for this:

1. Foreign Languages

It really doesn’t matter what major you chose in college: medicine, arts, business or math – the additional language will come in handy. Of course, it would be smart to study something appropriate for your field of specialization – Spanish, if you plan to start business with connections in Latin America, or Chinese, if you study Eastern Arts. But if you prefer the sound of French or the dead beauty of Latin, who could possibly stop you?

1. Graphic Design Software

You could become an independent entrepreneur, work for a corporation or be a housewife – a little knowledge of Photoshop never hurt nobody. It doesn’t matter whether you are going to create design for a website, make a leaflet or change the shades in your profile photo, you will benefit from ability to work with graphic design software anyways.

1. Master Classes in Communication

The mere fact of studying in college means that your communication skills will get a significant boost. However, there is no better opportunity than to visit several master classes that will teach you the art of communication and provide you with diplomacy skills. The best thing about it – you will be able to apply everything you’ve learned right away. It would be just great, if same rule worked for all the knowledge you get in college, wouldn’t it.

1. Basics of Website Handling

We all live in information society, and you never know when you’ll need your personal website – or when you’ll need to help with maintaining someone else’s website. So why not take an analytic training course or a course in web design, or, at least, find some time and study HTML? Computer skills will never be unnecessary.

1. Art Stuff

Studying useful things, that are nothing but useful, usually pays off.  But hey, why not find an enjoyable way to express yourself? Of course, it would be pleasurable and flattering if you suddenly found out that you have a talent in art or music, but even if you have none, it doesn’t matter. Art is something people do for the sake of doing it, and even if you never make it to American Idol, you’ll still have a nice hobby for the rest of your life.

One can find time for many things throughout his life – but while you’re young and full of energy and fresh ideas, it’s perfect time for self-development. So don’t waste your days on college or parties alone, diversify yourself!

Melissa Burns graduated from the faculty of Journalism of Iowa State University in 2008. Nowadays she  is an entrepreneur and independent journalist. Her sphere of interests includes startups, information technologies and how these ones may be implemented.