BDE: Big Diploma Energy

Talk nerdy to me. Every day we roll out of bed seeking knowledge, but we can’t do it without the complaining, agonizing and overall headache of higher education. It’s about time we start seeing college for what it is — hot, cool and interesting. 

Sure, you study to prepare for a future career, but this should be more than memorization for your midterm. You’ve invested the money and the time to be qualified in at least one field; now it’s time for a return on that investment by applying your intelligence. It’s almost like your teachers were right, this information will be helpful in the future. 

Devotee

A lot of undergrads are under the assumption that all they need is that “piece of paper,” as though it’s their golden ticket to success. It helps to have the credentials, but in this job economy, you need the skills and knowledge to back up the diploma. However, you should also just take pride in being the student who actually comprehends their class and can share that knowledge with others. 

There’s nothing like microdosing a close friend’s major by hearing about every class and the characters in each of them. Being in a place that’s designed to assist the spread of knowledge is an underutilized facet of university. Going to office hours or actually following through on becoming out-of-class friends can lead to some of the best conversations and moments of growth. 

Plus, passion is always preferred. When someone who cares about nothing speaks, no one cares to hear it. Conviction and devotion to something larger than yourself create better avenues for connection.

Trendy Traits

Unfortunately, our society tends to value visual traits over those of a more intangible nature. Someone who is exceptionally beautiful or strong gets put on a higher pedestal than someone who studies hard, but we’re the ones shaping this hierarchy. 

It’s time to start congratulating, recognizing and celebrating our academic accomplishments the way we would a birthday or a new relationship. Post yourself looking cute with your coffee and that maybe procrastinated project, and not just to LinkedIn. Our scholarly pursuits make up most of our day-to-day life, so it’s not hard to manage the multitasking of getting your work done and looking good while doing it. 

It’s not all about the appearance of academia, of course. Each field of study has its own applications of knowledge. For example, film majors can not only showcase their final products on social media, but can also use their camera skills to help capture key moments during parties or hangouts. While every major might not have evident, exclusive traits to apply to everyday life, there are all sorts of knowledge we pursue, from street to book smarts. 

Knowledge is Power

Cheesy, cliché even, but true — what and who you know can take you far in life. You’ve put in your shifts at the stacks, and now it’s time to show what you know. 

You can be the class savior who raises their hand when no one else has done the reading, the most interesting person at the party and, maybe best of all, you can prove that you paid all that money for something. 

It’s important to use this power for good. Don’t be that person in the group project who’s too overcontrolling, or the person who raises their hand a little too much in class. Part of being intelligent is also knowing when to let others share their unique perspectives, right or wrong. The greatest responsibility that comes with the power of knowledge is knowing how to share it without being condescending or gatekeeping. 

Successfully navigating young adulthood is a learning process we all go through while simultaneously studying up on separate subjects. Although we all learn at different paces, there’s a unique fascination and admiration for those 20-somethings who seem to have all the secrets. Wisdom is something that comes with age, but also experience. Embrace the experience of college and allow yourself to brag about your beautiful mind.

What’s the biggest thing you’ve learned in college? Let us know on Instagram or X @VALLEYMag!

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