“There’s a time and place for everything, kiddos, and that’s called college.” This might be a paraphrase from a pop culture reference, but it resonates with me.
In high school, I was that kid on the fringes—too quirky for the popular crowd yet not quite nerdy enough to fit in with the academic elite. I blended into the background, a stark contrast to my vibrant college years. The late ’80s and early ’90s were a whirlwind of experiences as I navigated through various majors, taking my time to figure out what I wanted to do instead of rushing towards a goal that would likely shift anyway.
College meant living in a shared apartment with a steady stream of acquaintances. It revolved around coffee, instant noodles, pizza, and cheap beer. I spent many nights writing papers at ungodly hours, fueled by peppermint schnapps, and occasionally crashing back at my childhood home, with my mom’s coffee nudging me awake. Late-night discussions covered everything from politics to which character in our literature class was the most annoying. I even struggled through a German class, only to find that all I retained years later was a single, colorful phrase. And who could forget the midnight knock at the door from a friend in a trench coat—pants optional?
My love for college was so profound that it led me to a career in higher education. While this sometimes helps me stay connected to youth culture, it also means I have to deal with the pesky reality of gray hairs more often than I’d like.
Technology has reshaped the college experience, making many of my cherished memories seem foreign to today’s students. When I share stories of my college days, the work-study students in my office look at me as if I’m relaying tales from a bygone era. Here are just a few elements of my college experience that are now largely relics of the past.
1. The Registration Process
The excitement would build as we learned that the next semester’s schedule was out. We would rush to the Registrar’s Office, where stacks of printed schedules awaited. I’d grab extras for friends, much to the annoyance of the counter staff. We’d gather outside or in nearby cafes, pouring over options while ink smudged our fingers. After discussing choices, I would meet with my advisors, each eccentric in their own right. Registration Day was a rite of passage, with lines stretching through the Commuter Cafeteria, the air thick with the scent of stale food. No matter how I felt that day—whether hungover or exhausted—I showed up because registration was non-negotiable. Today, however, students simply log onto a mobile-friendly website to sign up for classes at their convenience, eliminating those nostalgic lines.
2. Public Grade Announcements
Back in the day, getting grades through traditional mail took ages. Professors would post grades outside their offices, and we’d flock there, waiting for our turn to see the results. Publicly displaying our social security numbers or variations of them was standard, and we didn’t worry about identity theft. We simply hoped to see a good grade next to our number.
3. Competing for the Dorm Phone
My “dorm” was actually an apartment shared with three roommates, and we had to rely on a communal phone since cell phones were virtually nonexistent. When a friend would call, I often found myself pacing anxiously while waiting for a roomie to finish her conversation. If I could have texted, I would have sent sad emojis instead of dealing with the frustration of voicemail.
4. Resume Paper
During my time in college, I worked at the career center, where I often heard counselors stress the importance of quality resume paper. I remember carefully crafting my own resume, only to face printer jams and typos. Nowadays, resumes are mostly digital, and the days of resume paper are long gone.
5. Reconnecting on Social Media
While this may not specifically pertain to my college experience, it’s worth mentioning. Many of my friendships faded post-graduation, only to be rekindled when I discovered Facebook in the late 2000s. The thrill of reconnecting has been lost on today’s students, who are often already connected before they even graduate.
There are countless experiences from my college days that my children will likely never know. Yet, while they may be forming friendships and cramming for exams in ways that are different from what I knew, the essence of college life—such as enjoying ramen and late-night study sessions—remains. The nostalgia for those bygone experiences may linger, but many changes are for the best. I certainly don’t miss the registration lines or the frustration of paper jams!
For more insights on starting your family journey, check out our post on the at-home insemination kit. You might also find valuable information about fertility at this excellent resource. And for those celebrating special occasions, learn how to make it memorable with three simple steps for Cinco de Mayo.
In conclusion, while many aspects of college life have transformed dramatically, the core experiences of growth, friendship, and late-night study sessions continue to shape students today.