Some Unconventional Yet Essential Advice for College Students by Emily

Some Unconventional Yet Essential Advice for College Students by Emily - September 2014 Scholarship Essay

I just graduated from college in May. I’d like to consider myself an expert on the topic, but the truth is so much of college is subjective that you’ll be hard-pressed to find one single person who’s an all-inclusive expert. There are so many pieces of advice I could offer to college students from time management to the importance of networking. But every other article you’ll find on preparing for college will give you a list of all the same clichés. So I wanted to offer a more unique piece of advice, if not to win some scholarship money for my nursing degree than just to be an interesting read for all the readers out there.

The one skill that truly helped me succeed in college was the skill of knowing how to make a really good cup of coffee. Stay with me because I’m serious about this. One thing that followed me throughout all five years of my undergraduate degree was perpetual sleep deprivation. At first I just dealt with being tired and crabby all the time. That obviously didn’t work for very long. Then one morning during my sophomore year of college, my little brother, noticing the bags under my eyes only thinly masked by makeup, handed me a cup of coffee and said, “This is going to rock your world.” He was right. The caffeine jolt not only boosted my mood but also my productivity. After that first cup of joe there was no turning back for me. I finally understood the obsession people had with Starbucks. Of course, a coffee addiction can really add up financially so investing in a good coffeemaker is another piece of free advice for you.

The same brother who introduced me to coffee also taught me how to make a delicious cup all on my own, which meant anytime I needed some energy, day or night because it was college after all, coffee was right at my fingertips. As silly as it sounds, I’m serious when I say that coffee is the reason I passed some of my classes. It kept me awake long enough to study for extended hours and it woke me up in the morning so I could focus during tests. And at some point I also discovered that having a cup of coffee with me during class helped me to pay more attention and take better notes.

So among all the truly excellent pieces of advice about making the perfect schedule and getting involved in extra-curricular activities, and they are excellent tips, don’t forget the power of a cup of really good coffee to fuel your study time.