As a college student, it can be hard to take advantage of all of the opportunities that present themselves every day. Most of the time, it comes down to time management and balancing schoolwork and sanity.  Sometimes, when you get out of class, the last thing you want to think about is homework much less other activities that require brainpower. Enter television, video games, and other extracurricular activities, but you can do more.  I have come to realize that as the fall semester of my senior year dwindles I find myself thinking, “Am I ready for the real world? Have I gotten everything I want from college?”

And now for the clichés: Take those extra steps. Go the extra mile. Don’t ask what your education can do for you, but ask what you can do for your education. Don’t just do what is asked of you but go above and beyond to further expand your horizons.

Not only do I encourage getting hands-on experience through an internship, but I encourage you to do the small things as well.  If you’re an Internet buff, get online and look at blogs in the industry you want to go into. Look at what thought leaders are saying. Research companies that you might want to look for. If you like to read, pick up some books about topics that interest you and can also apply to your industry. Look to industry journals and publications for more information. Attend lectures and events on campus that you are interested in. Try new things and take advantage of campus opportunities. Also, think creatively and take on your own projects. As our agency manager always says, “Be a sponge.”

I am a public relations major, marketing minor, nutrition minor and I am constantly surrounding myself with these topics. I have RSS feeds to industry blogs such as Richard Edelman’s 6am and David Meerman Scott’s Web Ink Now. This semester, I have numerous books on my list including Made to Stick by Chip Heath and Dan Heath, Pyro Marketing by Greg Stielstra, Nudge by Richard Thaler and Cass Sunstein, Words that Work by Frank Luntz, and The End of Overeating by David Kessler. I have taken on a few projects on my own that I am interested in as well.

Take this time in college to be open to new opportunities. These small things can make a big difference when it comes to getting a job because it shows that you are knowledgeable and will take initiative even when no one asks you to.  Don’t take these things for granted– when you enter the “real world,” you may not have the chance (or time) to do these things.