In high-school, I defined the meaning of being an over-achiever. I was a state finalist at the Texas History Fair competition. I was in Model United Nations, Science Olympiad, President of this club and that club. I was on every honor list and I graduated at the top of my class.

My inherent need to succeed and impress my parents only intensified in college. I was obsessed with my GPA. My hours of studying paid off. I made the dean’s list every semester and I graduated Magna Cum Laude.

While I appreciate my achievement, I deeply regret my myopic drive for scholastic success. No employer has ever asked me what my SAT score or my GPA was. Nobody cared. I wish I knew that then.

I didn’t crash any parties or date that much in college. I never got drunk or got stoned. (Well, not never. Just very rarely.) I am now eight years out of college and what I love most about my college experience was the opportunity to socialize with a young group of idealists of various ethnic and religious backgrounds and alternative lifestyles.

If it had not been for my strict code of studying, I could have strengthened friendships and relationships that in hindsight, I know I took for granted. Now I impart to you, the graduating college class of 2010 and beyond, some wisdom from a girl who missed out on what could have been some of the best times of her life.

10. Go to a college sporting event at least once.
If you’re not into sports, you should go at least once to absorb the energy of the crowd at a college game. If you are a sports enthusiast, there is no better place than a stadium of packed fans to scream your lungs off. College sports events are a prime location for mouthing off against the opponents with thousands of your closest buddies and it is one of the few times in life an adult can get away with wearing the same shirt as everyone else.

9. Lay off the plastic.
Don’t be like so many people in their mid to late twenties and thirties who are suffering from financial debt. Uncle Visa and Aunt American Express will haunt you for the rest of your life. Only use the card for necessities. And by necessities, I mean books and supplies, not spring break trips to Cabo or a 42” flat screen plasma TV.

8. Do not develop a drinking habit you can’t control.
Do you remember that scene from Old School where Will Farrell gets drunk and goes streaking? You do not want to be that guy. People may hi-five your prowess to consume alcohol now, but in a few years, you’ll be that naked, hairy-butt guy everyone felt sorry for.

7. Be responsible about studying.
Yes we know studying can be a real drag on your social life. But an even bigger drag is failing out of college. And the worst drag is to explain to your parents why you failed out of college and wasted their hard-earned money.

I had a friend who, out of shame and embarrassment, lied to her parents about failing out of college her sophomore year. The lie got worse and she pretended to go to college for two more years. Believe me, when the truth came out, there was hell to pay. Stay on top of your grades. You never want to be in the position of having to catch up on a passing GPA.

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