<p>Answering your opening question, I found my college years upsetting because of the Vietnam War. I attended from 1968-72 so there was a big build-up of troops. The boys were edgy because if they didn’t do well in class, and flunked out, their next step was into a uniform because of a draft. Professors didn’t give F’s because that could doom somebody. Several times we organized big busloads of students to go to antiwar marches in Washington, D.C. and that was dirty and grubby travelling. I worried about my older brother as he graduated, and each boyfriend was a story of staying out from the military draft. Meanwhile, we were all very much aware (if we came from public schools) that h.s. friends were being killed overseas. College seemed less important than what was happening in the country. </p>
<p>As a young female, it was extremely difficult to get approved for contraceptives; this involved much subterfuge, secret trips to Planned Parenthood clinics but only after you had lost your virginity. Girls were getting illegal abortions because it was before Roe v. Wade. </p>
<p>My particular college was within an hour of Kent State in 1970. I was lucky that my parents were antiwar, but most students were in big conflict with their parents over core values. I didn’t do much drugs, but a lot of people on campus did (pot and very occasionally acid), so I never quite knew with whom I was talking! </p>
<p>I wish for anything that I could return and just concentrate on the courses.
I loved the learning for its own sake, with hardly any thought to what I’d do after graduating. I chose a purely intellectual major (Art History) simply to be able to enjoy the readings and assignments and forget what was happening in the country.</p>
<p>Today I’m pretty sure that these experiences were worthwhile and gave me
compassion and insight into many tough decisions people make daily. The political turmoil that hijacked my attention from classes also prepared me to enter the world after college, emotionally if not financially. I guess the whole thing toughened me up, in a positive way. </p>
<p>I have to think hard to remember lighthearted or frolicsome times, although there were some good Saturday nights dancing to vinyl records by The Who,
The Stones, Jefferson Airplane, Jim Morrison, Janis, and the Grateful Dead.
It bothers me that your generation is taught about “hippies” as if it was only a love-in. In fact, Woodstock (which I also attended) was a much needed break after the exhaustion of political activity. Too much death was happening and I felt I just needed a break for a weekend (between my freshman and soph years). </p>
<p>I have too many serious memories from college. I needed that inner core to be strengthened, I just didn’t know it would be through political activity. </p>
<p>You actually have a unique opportunity, if you have interest in the world. We’re about to have a crucial presidential election. If you’re a serious person, and you think you should balance studies with fun, that’s probably true. Sports is healthy, yoga is good for you. But you might ALSO feel good to engage with what’s occurring in the nation this year. Even if you just work on voter registration on your campus, you’re doing a very important thing while meeting other people. If politics holds no interest, perhaps just participating in democracy this way is simpler and authentic for you. I am sure that a lot of the campus politics of the 1960’s was the boys’ way of coping with their guilt to be protected from military service. Now, instead, there’s a volunteer army that protects you from the draft. But if you have the privilege of BEING on a campus as a young man, perhaps you can pay that back by involving yourself in the democracy the others are trying to defend. It’s another way of creating “balance” in the coming year.</p>
<p>You sound like a serious person, which is why I wrote so seriously. Just a hunch.</p>
<p>Don’t worry about overthinking. Some of us just DO that. It’s a style.</p>
Still stay in touch with a few college friends - a few are amazingly successful and well known within their respective industries, some are caring for children and aging parents as a career. Could I have done “better” GPA wise…sure. Would a higher GPA have made one wit of difference in my life… really no. I learned equally much about my self, how to function in the workforce, and just general adult social interation from the extra curriculars that ate into my study time. It’s all about balance is what I tell my kids.</p>