Nostalgia for college days

LegacyUser

I've recently been reflecting obsessively over the years I spent in college. I did a five degree (I'd rather not say where) and made a good few friends there.
I also had great housemates and even though I didn't go out much (far too busy with college work) it was a time in my life when I was really happy. I miss the little things so much, like going chatting over coffee in the canteen and messing about in the computer labs.
Meeting loads of people every day, without a care in the world (well apart from failing my exams that is).
I have a job but I work by myself in different places every day so I don't have a real social network as such. I keep thinking back to my days in college, often last thing at night and first thing in the morning.
I keep in touch with only two that I really considered close friends. One of them works in the UK (I plan to visit him soon) and the other has moved up the country.
It's not the same though as you can't re-create the same relationship again taht you had back then
I know it's stupid as everyone has to get a job and move on at some stage.
I never wanted to stay in education forever bumming off the state, I want to work and have a career.
But at the same time I can't help but think that the happiest days of my life are gone and will never return.
I feel really envious of the freshers starting off in September in colleges around the country
with all that enjoyment to look forward to.
I'm an idiot I know but life has really gone downhill since I got my degree. Life isn't about money or material things, it's about enjoying your friends and having good friends who brighten up your day.
You can't put a price on that.

needhelpguy

I agree with you. Unfortunately I don't have much to offer in terms of support, I have found that life just continually goes downhill after college. I didn't even go to a proper college, there were no socs or anything of the sort and I kind of feel like I missed out. But I'm working now and I have to deal with that.

One thing is though, I don't think I could ever go back to having to do assignments or study for exams. That is something you would not look forward to.

Talliesin

Sentimental wrote: »

Life isn't about money or material things, it's about enjoying your friends and having good friends who brighten up your day.
You can't put a price on that.

Do that then. Lots of people have jobs and do that.

In my experience, life continually gets better. It doesn't do so if you don't help it though.

caesar

Sentimental wrote: »

............ Life isn't about money or material things, it's about enjoying your friends and having good friends who brighten up your day.
You can't put a price on that.

You'll probably find that some people forget this or dont seem to acknowledge this fact. Although I guess its not a fact if people dont endorse it but my point is that I agree with this and most people would like to think they do too, the reality is somewhat different though.

Now to be honest I quickly scanned through your post, but at the end of the day you have to work and all that, as will your friends. You have to move on from your college days.....I know that I will when I finish. The key is finding a balance between your work life and your home life, it's hard to find in our current economic/social environment I know. The thing is that your day should start when you get up, not when you get home from work as it does for many people. Find a job you enjoy, one where you can consider the people at work your friends. Also keep in contact with your other friends, organise weekends away if possible and all that. Im not sure if I've said anything useful or helped in anyway but I hope you can take something from it


One more thing have you thought about going traveling? maybe ask a friend or a few friends if they wanted to go traveling.

LegacyUser

Dude Im totally with you there, college is a wonderous place and nothing else comes close to the libertarian atmosphere there. Its great fun, intellectually stimulating, optimism thrives there. For me it was utopia, I even enjoyed the exams because I did well in them and studying was enjoyable too because each exam was like a project where you could build upon your knowledge and feel enlightened!

You can always go back to do another course. Have you considered doing a phd? Then you never have to leave! I wouldn't get sucked into a routine soul destroying 9-5 existence, it sucks and it happens to people because they don't do anything about their situation or else they want to work in that environment in the first place. But just because a lot of people aspire to make money to buy things they don't need doesn't mean everyone has to do it. Its the red or blue pill. You have control over what path you want to take in the future.

RedXIV

Hey OP,

I'm just finished my 3rd year in college and about to hit my final year, but i can honestly tell you that while i've had so much fun in college, it's nothing compared to what i have planned after it.

Don't know if you suffered with financial side of things in college, but i'm pretty sick of being broke all the time. (hopefully this will improve with full time work. hopefully). I also agree that i won't miss exams or projects, my course was pretty intense and i'm going to be happy when it's over.

But I'd like to add that there are things you can do to recreate these ideas and feelings you enjoyed so much. Go to night classes, get extra qualifications, join a few more clubs and societies, anything that might give you back the feel of college (you can even send me money for financial simulation ).

Remember, your life is what you make it, and if you want it to change, you have to do it, it won't do it for you.

Best of luck OP

Red

RealEstateKing

think of the world of work as if it's a bad thing.

If you go to work in an area that you enjoy, you'll enjoy life far more than you did in college. You dont have to go and work 9-5 in a bank if you dont want to.

I enjoyed college, but I was glad when it was over, it was all so theoretical that by the end I was raging to actually DO something.

ruskin

I loved college, in spite of not going out much and having alot of projects. Now that I work, I truly hate every single second of it. It has taken the soul out of me, and I feel really broken.

RedXIV

ruskin wrote: »

I loved college, in spite of not going out much and having alot of projects. Now that I work, I truly hate every single second of it. It has taken the soul out of me, and I feel really broken.

Change jobs then, go get something that fulfills you. I doubt it's simply the idea of work that is causing this, thats a pretty immature view, if you want to change it, do, get night classes or whatever to get the required qualification and DO IT. no one else can do it for you, the first step is all yours.

Best of luck!

DenMan

Hey OP

You could aim for a teaching qualification and with some experience under your belt you could quite possibility end up lecturing in the college you went to. That would be the next level above what you have done in the past. You were are student, in order to teach you will need to be a student again and then you will be the teacher. Nice little combination that, go for it.

Clare Bear

I know how you feel OP. I went to college in Maynooth and if I could go back to college I would in a second. The two proper years I was there were great, I miss living with my old housemates more than anything, four girls who would just laugh from the second we got in the door til we went out of it, good times.....but that was a few years ago now and while I miss college and being a student I know I can't go back to it so no point in pining for it....you can't stay in college forever, you have to make the most out of the life you have now.

LegacyUser

Some people have suggested going back to education but that's a no-no. I should have mentioned I went to college as a mature student (I am in my early thirties) so after going to college to get a degree in order to get a job, giving it all up to go back again is just plain silly.
The upside of college is that you will never be lonely and always have a laugh. The downside is being broke. The upside of a job is that you have money, the downside is you may not like the work and not have many friends.

But work is work, I know, you're not necessarily meant to enjoy it. But things just seem so depressing now. The first thing i do when I go on the 'net is look at the bebo pages of allthe people I used to know in college (sad I know).

I suppose a lot of it is the nature of my work, as I don't work in an office environment, I spend a lot of time on the road and in remote towns and villages. I probably wouldn't miss college at all if I was in a workplace with social nights and all the rest.

I do enjoy my job sometimes, don't get me wrong I'm certainly glad to have it. In the current economic climate I certainly don't take it for granted. I know if I really put my mind to it I could get a different job and maybe have a better social life but the grass isn't always greener on the other side.

K_P

I can totally understand where you're coming from OP. I've felt that way on and off every now and again. Obviously enough I feel particularly nostalgic when I'm having a tough time at work and I feel the pressures of the real world a bit too much.

Never before or since had I so little money, lived in such a kip, but also I've never had as many friends, had such a laugh, had so many nights out and just fantastic carefree times with great people.

With the way your job is OP, you probably need to increase your social circle. Join a night class, a club, organise more nights out with your friends. College days were great, but they're not the only great days you're going to have. Onwards and upwards!

Banana_montana

I'm that way when it comes to school... I really had a great time there and a great life too. Never a dull moment except when the homework was piled on.
I guess I still haven't moved on... Im halfway through college... well I have a diploma and I'm starting a degree course next Sept... and I still get nostalgic and really attached to my school memories... at 21 like:)

I think it's normal enough. I guess we just gotta get over it, but it's difficult when you can't grasp why life was so much better and fun then as it is now.

eddie.fandango

RedXIV wrote: »

Change jobs then, go get something that fulfills you. I doubt it's simply the idea of work that is causing this, thats a pretty immature view, if you want to change it, do, get night classes or whatever to get the required qualification and DO IT. no one else can do it for you, the first step is all yours.

Best of luck!

Good advice. Imagine the one thing you would love to do if there was no chance of failure....and do it!