Embracing Opportunities: Making the Most of College Life

Every university student should ask themselves an important question: “What do you want to achieve during these four years?” This question is crucial as it relates to the kind of person you aspire to become after graduating from university. We follow the country’s education regulations, spending four years in college to acquire advanced knowledge or specific skills in a particular field. However, there are many voices claiming that college education is useless. They argue that what students learn in school often differs from practical experience, making the four years in college seem like a waste of time. They believe that, in the end, work experience is more valuable than theoretical knowledge gained from books.

While I understand this perspective, I don’t entirely agree. I acknowledge that, in most cases, practical experience tends to be more beneficial than simply reading without taking action. However, I believe that university education is fundamentally different from earlier forms of education, such as high school or elementary school. In those earlier stages, everything is pre-arranged—students have fixed class schedules, designated times for study and rest, and a structured environment. In contrast, university offers a unique level of freedom. Students can choose which classes to take and are responsible for arranging their own time. This autonomy is what makes university education distinct and, in my opinion, invaluable. More freedom also means taking responsibility for managing our time and schoolwork, as well as improving ourselves in various aspects. This drives me to reflect deeply on the question I posed earlier. I believe university is a place filled with resources and opportunities waiting to be discovered and utilized effectively. Students need to be independent and proactive in seeking out these resources to enrich themselves.

There are many ways to enrich oneself, and I choose to participate in competitions to broaden my perspective and gain valuable experience. I have joined two competitions this semester. My team and I achieved first place in the National Innovation and Entrepreneurship Competition, which was an amazing experience. I never imagined we could earn such an honor. Big thanks go to our team, the effort we put in, and the judges for their encouragement.However, the second competition was not as fortunate as the first. We didn't make it past the preliminary round. Although this failure initially left me feeling discouraged, it became a valuable opportunity to recognize my weaknesses and identify areas for improvement. Failure won’t hold me back; in fact, I appreciate myself even more when I give my best effort to achieve my goals.

I believe that opportunities come to those who are prepared. More important, college students need to be active to make good use of resources in order to improve themselves. In addition to participating in competitions, students can also choose double majors or minor departments to increase their competitiveness, or look for internship opportunities outside. In fact, the choice is always in your own hands. How you use it depends on whether you have the ambition to make progress in medicine. The conclusion is that college is a place full of possibilities. And I hope that I can make good use of these abilities to make my future full of infinite possibilities. Be brave, and just go for it!