You probably are in college or about to join college. Your experience might not be boring but you want something meaningful. Universities and colleges are not simply for education. A lot of students explore deeper learning by thriving all around as Dr.Ken Bain, University of District of Columbia, discusses in his book What the best college students do.

His research showed that successful students took control of their education. In a sense, it means they understood their passions and fully engaged in their learning deeply and thoroughly. As much as that is what is desired, it's one faced, what about the rest of you?

College life is demanding. It's a volatile place of all young adults' lives and for them to fully immerse themselves and reap all it has to offer, they must be masters of the following facets of their college life.

• Time

• Academics

• Relationships

• Safety

• Finance

• Knowing when they need help

• Mental health and physical health

Some opportunities and experiences will make your college years a comprehensive balance of academic and social life. Mastery of this will give you the time, space, and energy to focus on things that you should do before gradution.

1VOLUNTEERING

This is not a must and it might not be on your bucket list, but it is worth a try. You can take this a notch higher and volunteer abroad. There are so many opportunities to volunteer abroad that offer this service even for free.

Look for an organization, children's homes, centers for animal rescue, or homes for the elderly and offer a helping hand. Some experiences will completely change your life. You can volunteer as a group or individually depending on the situation.

The trick about volunteering is finding your niche. Do you have a soft spot for animals, the environment, children, etc? Whatever your preferences, volunteering your effort makes a difference. Start small and easy, you can commit for a few weeks and expand your timeframe later after you settle in and see the positive benefits. Keep in mind that it's also a great addition to your resume and gives you a hand on experience.

According to the Stony Brook University of Medicine, volunteer experience improves mental health, and Volunteers' are more likely to live longer than those who do not volunteer.

Benefits of volunteering include;

1. It's a good satisfactory investment of your time.

2. Meet friends and new people.

3. A profound sense of satisfaction helping others and being there for them.

4. Helps you make connections between academics and the real world.

2 JOIN A CLUB

This is an opportunity to explore your interest. What is that activity or hobby you have always wanted to try? You can even come up with one if it's not among the university clubs already existent. Music, dance, sports, politics, or arts, you venture in any direction.

Research backs up your new endeavor too. President of the Pre-Law Association at the University of Albany, Achumburo, says college may be hard at times but it makes a difference when you have activities and groups so you can use your passion, it can help with anxiety.

Joining clubs is a perfect way to form friendships and meet new people. Branch out of your comfort zone and try something different. Go to archery and shoot at the skies, who cares. Getting involved in clubs, builds your resume and gives you a whole new perspective and access to whole new opportunities that you won't necessarily have otherwise.

3GET A JOB

This might not sound interesting at all but the benefits are worthwhile. It gives you experience and adds to your curriculum vitae and don't forget you get to earn.

Many students find work during their college days to support them financially and they also get to benefit from the other things that come with it. Most colleges and universities have tons of resources to help students find employment and can be even within a school.

Holding a job for long enough while balancing your school work is tricky and you need to plan well. You can even start your own business, start offering freelance services like writing, it shows initiative to prospective employers while earning cash.

4KEEP YOUR GRADES UP

College is a time and place to study and graduating with good grades is the least you can do. Although they are not the only thing prospective employers look for, they will make landing a job easier for you. After all, college is about learning and grades show how much.

Make a schedule and make time for study. Study with friends in groups and consult your professors and of course, attend classes to keep those grades up. From first year, set the pace for yourself and keep up throughout your college years.

5 STUDY ABROAD

This offers a unique experience for those who have ventured this way. Studying abroad exposes you to a new environment and people. You can participate in exchange programs your school offers with other universities abroad. Learning new languages, and new cultures, and having friends international is just the experience you need.

6LIVE YOUR LIFE

Get in relationships, get heartbroken. It's okay to live life with your friends, those nights out in movies or clubs or those road trips are forever memorable experiences. Make friends starting with your roommate. All those disagreements and fights are what you need to be more independent and considerate of others.

All the relationships you form with your teachers, peers, and romantic ones will shape the person you are and make you more resilient in life. Everyone is young and inexperienced in college and it's okay to make a million mistakes and learn from them.

7 EXPLORE YOUR SCHOOL AND THE CITY AROUND

Chances are your college or university has a lot of facilities and they're those corners you've never set foot in. Apart from your school, there's a whole city outside the gates that you know nothing about.

Learn about the people, history, and culture of the city and the people around it. There are so many places you can go and visit alone or with friends from museums to parks and historical landmarks.