Life Lessons: Discovering what college is really about
Commentary by Chelsea Hudson

Why are we here?

Why do we go to class or take the time to absorb knowledge? What is the point? Are we here to make the 4.0 grade point average and get the dream executive job? Do we attend college in hopes that we might meet the love of our lives and make the memories that we shall remember forever?

Before I left for Spring Break, I was visiting with my accounting professor, In-Mu Haw. Some are blessed in this field of management decision-making and some of us struggle. Unfortunately, I fall into the latter category.

It is funny how struggling can be so hard and frightening. Then, the next thing you know, you begin to make mountains out of molehills.

For instance, if I don’t excel in accounting, then I will never get a great job and my career is shot.

Haw understands. His wisdom goes far beyond the classroom. He told me to remember that grades are not always the most important point and he proceeded to tell me what really counts.

“Friends, family, and learning about yourself is what truly matters,” he said.

He also asked me, “If you make a 4.0 and you’re sick at the end of the semester, are you really better off?”

At TCU we have intense students who live and breathe their education and rarely make time for anything else. Then we have the students who live and breathe leadership and barely have time to study, rest or take care of themselves. Sometimes I think I fall into both categories.

During Spring Break a thought occurred to me. I was doing research on a paper and I learned something terribly valuable. This research paper I am doing requires that I describe a congressman from Texas who was a committee chair. As I was reading about Congressman Joe Bailey’s life, I came across a crucial thought that all college students (including me) need not forget.

The sole purpose of college is for students to begin discovering who they are. Congressman Bailey went to five different colleges and he did not realize that valuable point until he went to his final college.

When we reminisce of our college days, we won’t remember the grades we made or the great leadership accomplishments we had. But, we will remember the late-night conversations we happened to have with our friends at 2 a.m.

We may not remember all the facts we’re tested on, but we will remember the time our favorite professor shared a little wisdom with us. That is the moment when we begin to discover a piece of ourselves.

Chelsea Hudson is a junior political science major from Plano. She can be contacted at (c.n.hudson@student.tcu.edu).

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