Before You Fly The Nest: Advice for kids heading to college
August 5, 2022·0 comments·In Brief
Everyone talks about college as a launching pad for careers, but that's only half the equation. The real battle happens in the margins: how you spend your free time, who you become when no one's watching, which small decisions to protect yourself from. Most of the guidance students get treats these as secondary to academics. The evidence suggests otherwise.
• Most people enter college with a plan and leave doing something entirely different. Locking yourself into one major or one career path at 18 is rarely the constraint that matters. What matters is whether you stayed curious enough to find what actually resonates.
• The habits you develop now follow you for decades. Being organized, exercising regularly, showing up on time, taking notes efficiently. These feel like college skills. They're actually the foundation for how you'll operate for the rest of your life.
• You become an average of the people around you, whether you intend to or not. This isn't motivational poster talk. It's documented in research repeatedly. If your close friends exercise, you'll exercise more. If they drink five nights a week, you will too. Choosing your people is choosing your future.
• There's a vast difference between normal mistakes and irreversible ones. Everyone messes up in college. But some decisions can rewrite your entire life trajectory. The addiction that starts as a one-time experiment. The drunk drive home. The unprotected moment. Knowing which decisions are actually dangerous is the skill nobody teaches.
• College is built to reward two things simultaneously, and most students treat them as mutually exclusive. You need the accreditation that gets you jobs. You also need the self-invention that lets you live autonomously. Both are harder to build after graduation. The question is whether you'll actually do both while you have the chance.
Subscribe Today to Read More
Unlock instant access to this and hundreds of other evergreen essays that explore the world of narrative through hard science and human wisdom.
- Make more informed decisions as an investor and citizen.
- See through the nudges of Big Politics and Big Media.
- Become a better consumer of news.
- Maintain your autonomy of mind in a swarm of narratives.
- Join a community of more than 100,000 truth-seekers.
Looking for Deeper Insights?
Unlock exclusive market intelligence, trade ideas, and member-only events tailored for investment professionals and active investors with Perscient Pro.
VISIT PRO
DISCLOSURES
This commentary is being provided to you as general information only and should not be taken as investment advice. The opinions expressed in these materials represent the personal views of the author(s). It is not investment research or a research recommendation, as it does not constitute substantive research or analysis. Any action that you take as a result of information contained in this document is ultimately your responsibility. Epsilon Theory will not accept liability for any loss or damage, including without limitation to any loss of profit, which may arise directly or indirectly from use of or reliance on such information. Consult your investment advisor before making any investment decisions. It must be noted, that no one can accurately predict the future of the market with certainty or guarantee future investment performance. Past performance is not a guarantee of future results.
Statements in this communication are forward-looking statements. The forward-looking statements and other views expressed herein are as of the date of this publication. Actual future results or occurrences may differ significantly from those anticipated in any forward-looking statements, and there is no guarantee that any predictions will come to pass. The views expressed herein are subject to change at any time, due to numerous market and other factors. Epsilon Theory disclaims any obligation to update publicly or revise any forward-looking statements or views expressed herein. This information is neither an offer to sell nor a solicitation of any offer to buy any securities. This commentary has been prepared without regard to the individual financial circumstances and objectives of persons who receive it. Epsilon Theory recommends that investors independently evaluate particular investments and strategies, and encourages investors to seek the advice of a financial advisor. The appropriateness of a particular investment or strategy will depend on an investor's individual circumstances and objectives.
