Let me be blunt: just showing up to lectures and passing exams isn’t going to cut it anymore. The job market has changed, AI is reshaping entire industries, and that degree you’re working toward? It’s just a starting point, not a finish line. If you’re treating university like a checklist to complete, you’re setting yourself up for a rude awakening after graduation.
University Is Your Open-World Game
Think of your time at college as playing an open-world video game. You’ve got your main questline: enroll, attend classes, pass exams, graduate. That path takes you from start to finish, no matter what. But if you’re only following that main storyline, you’re missing the entire point of the game.
Every video game rewards you for exploring side quests. You gain experience, level up your skills, collect better gear, and become a more powerful character. The same logic applies to your college years. The student who just grinds through coursework emerges at level 30. The one who explores side quests, builds real skills, and experiments with different paths? They’re hitting level 50 or higher.
When you enter the job market, you’re competing against other characters. Your level matters. Your skills matter. And if you spent four years only doing the bare minimum, you’ll find yourself outmatched by people who used their time more strategically.
The Four Real Objectives of College
Let’s get clear on what you’re actually trying to accomplish:
Enjoy the experience. This is probably the last time in your life you’ll have this much freedom before responsibilities pile up. Make memories, have fun, explore.
Learn valuable knowledge and skills. Not just textbook theory, but practical abilities you can actually apply in the real world.
Get the certificate. Whether we like it or not, that piece of paper opens doors. It’s your credential, your stamp of credibility.
Make friends and build a network. The people you meet now could become collaborators, mentors, or business partners down the line.
All four matter. But there’s an underlying goal tying them together: preparing yourself to make money as an adult in the real world. Unless you have a trust fund, you’ll need economic security. That’s not shallow, it’s reality.
Not All Side Quests Are Created Equal
You can spend your evenings learning guitar. You can join the chess club. You can hit nightclubs every weekend. These activities might be enjoyable, but ask yourself: do they level up skills the job market actually values?
Playing guitar is fun. It’s fulfilling. But unless you’re aiming to become a professional musician or teacher, it’s a low-income skill. Same with chess. Same with partying. I’m not saying don’t do these things, but recognize what they’re building: memories and friendships, not marketable abilities.
Now imagine spending that same time learning to code. Or mastering design software. Or studying copywriting and persuasion. Or building AI automations. These are high-income skills that directly translate into job opportunities and business potential.
The High-Income Skills Worth Your Time
Coding: Even if you’re not studying computer science, learning to build websites or apps opens massive doors. Tech salaries are substantial, remote work becomes possible, and you can even start your own software business. People with basic coding skills have launched products that generate six or seven figures annually.
Design (UI/UX): Tech companies desperately need talented designers who understand user experience. If you can make digital products look good and function smoothly, you’re instantly more valuable than 90% of graduates.
Copywriting: The ability to write words that persuade people to take action is gold. Marketing teams, startups, agencies… everyone needs good copywriters. Learn this skill, and you’ll always find work.
Sales: No matter your career path, knowing how to sell ideas, products, or yourself is invaluable. Even lawyers need sales skills when they become partners and start winning clients.
AI proficiency: Understanding how to leverage AI tools, build automations, or create AI systems is becoming non-negotiable. The earlier you master this, the more competitive advantage you gain.
Data analysis: Businesses are drowning in data but starving for insights. If you can query databases, analyze patterns, and translate numbers into actionable strategies, companies will pay you well for it.
You don’t need to master all of these. Pick one or two that interest you and start experimenting. Watch YouTube tutorials. Join hackathons. Build small projects. The beauty of being a student is you have time to explore without pressure.
Why This Actually Matters
When you graduate and enter the job market, employers don’t just look at your degree. They look at what you can do. Can you solve problems? Can you add value to their business? Can you make them money or save them time?
If your only answer is “I have a degree in X,” you’re competing with thousands of others who can say the exact same thing. But if you can say, “I have a degree in X, plus I built three apps, redesigned a local business’s website, and understand how to automate workflows with AI,” suddenly you’re a completely different candidate.
You become what I call “an absolute weapon of a character.” You’re not just another graduate hoping someone will hire you. You’re someone with proven skills who can contribute from day one.
Your Copious Free Time Is Running Out
I know you feel busy. But compared to working a full-time job? You have an embarrassing amount of free time right now. You just might not realize it because you’ve never experienced the alternative.
Use this window wisely. You’re in a unique period where your only job is to hang out and learn stuff. That’s literally it. There’s no boss breathing down your neck, no mortgage to worry about, no kids needing attention. This freedom disappears after graduation.
So while you’re enjoying the experience, meeting friends, and earning your degree, also dedicate chunks of time to leveling up high-income skills. Future you will be incredibly grateful you did.
The students struggling to find jobs after graduation? They’re not struggling because they weren’t smart enough or didn’t work hard enough in class. They’re struggling because they only followed the main questline. They didn’t level up skills the market actually values.
Don’t be that person. Play the full game. Explore the side quests that matter. Build yourself into someone the job market can’t ignore.
Your time at university isn’t just about getting a degree. It’s about becoming valuable. Make it count.
FAQs
Q: How much time should I spend on side skills versus my actual degree?
A: Start with 3-5 hours weekly on one high-income skill. Your degree comes first, but consistency matters more than intensity.
Q: What if I don’t know which skill to learn?
A: Pick something that genuinely interests you from the list. Try it for a month. If it doesn’t click, try another. Exploration is part of the process.
Q: Can I really learn valuable skills from free YouTube tutorials?
A: Absolutely. Many successful developers, designers, and entrepreneurs are self-taught. Free resources are incredibly comprehensive now.
Q: Is it too late if I’m already in my final year?
A: Not at all. You still have months to build a portfolio project or learn foundational skills. Something is infinitely better than nothing.
If this post sparked a thought, shifted your mindset, or gave you something meaningful — don’t let it end here.
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