Those Bothersome Life Lessons

The longer I'm in college, the more I realize that a true college education has very little to do with the material you learn in a classroom. Throughout the course of this, my second year, I've been in a class that has been the epitome of this statement. At time, I feel like this class takes this idea to the extreme in that it can show an almost blatant disregard for teaching the material and often becomes a series of mind games.

Interesting how I've chosen to personify the class in that action, instead of the teacher.

Any challenging course takes a lot of time and effort, but if learning the material is the main focus of the class, then the time and effort can be well spent and can pay off grandly. However, sometimes, learning is not the only obstacle. It can take a back seat to the other forms of education that are sometimes very unwillingly accepted.

It may seem so much more pleasant to do without those lessons, but like it or not, there are times when you don't get to choose.

Through organic chemistry, I have been forced - against my will - to learn how to work as part of a team; that helping others work their way up is more fulfilling than being alone at the top; sometimes you must deal with people you'd rather avoid; that people will defy reason and rationality (but that they'll also defy expectation, as well). I know now that understanding priority is essential, time management is a major asset, and determination (mixed with a dash of spite) can pull you out of a very deep hole. Friends that make it through the most stressful of times with you are great to have around when the world is a little lighter. Your enemies aren't always who you think they are. No one else can give you your self-worth. Nothing replaces really, really, really hard work. Finally being able to see the other side of the mountain makes the past struggle begin to fade.

And so maybe, when you're forced to learn those bothersome life lessons that you didn't realize you signed up for - and might not have chosen, if you'd known - you come out with a bit more than you paid for.