Good morning Hank, it's question Tuesday
Good morning Hank, it's question Tuesday

On Wednesday
On Wednesday

The day where I answer real questions from real Nerdfighters
The day where I answer real questions from real Nerdfighters

Hank, yesterday I sent out a tweet asking Nerdfighters
Hank, yesterday I sent out a tweet asking Nerdfighters

if they had any questions and they answered on mass.
if they had any questions and they answered on mass.

Right. So most of them were about college.
Right. So most of them were about college.

Having both attended college and watched the movie "Animal House"
Having both attended college and watched the movie "Animal House"

I feel like college is one of my fields of expertise
I feel like college is one of my fields of expertise

and so far as I can tell there are 5 facets of the collegiate experience.
and so far as I can tell there are 5 facets of the collegiate experience.

Alright so lets take these in order:
Alright so lets take these in order:

Number 1: Academics. I am going to tell you a secret.
Number 1: Academics. I am going to tell you a secret.

Every year many, many, stupid people graduate from college.
Every year many, many, stupid people graduate from college.

And if they can do it
And if they can do it

so can you.
so can you.

In fact I would argue that it is not that difficult to skate by at most colleges.
In fact I would argue that it is not that difficult to skate by at most colleges.

That said it turns out to be a huge mistake
That said it turns out to be a huge mistake

to ignore the academic facets of college;
to ignore the academic facets of college;

partly because the point of life is to engage as deeply as possible
partly because the point of life is to engage as deeply as possible

with the miracle of human consciousness
with the miracle of human consciousness

and partly because there will come a day where you are 35 years old
and partly because there will come a day where you are 35 years old

and you are writing a check
and you are writing a check

every
every

single
single

month
month

to pay off your student loans
to pay off your student loans

and it would be very helpful to you if you feel like that money bought something.
and it would be very helpful to you if you feel like that money bought something.

Because my friends I am here to tell you
Because my friends I am here to tell you

that you do not have to be a college student to play beer pong.
that you do not have to be a college student to play beer pong.

So study. And the only other piece, back into my advice, is to study broadly.
So study. And the only other piece, back into my advice, is to study broadly.

I think its really valuable to take classes in lots of different departments
I think its really valuable to take classes in lots of different departments

because you'll be surprised how the classes you don't think you're interested in
because you'll be surprised how the classes you don't think you're interested in

end up shaping your life.
end up shaping your life.

For example, although I'm not a sci-ency person I took several biology classes in college
For example, although I'm not a sci-ency person I took several biology classes in college

including one called: "AIDS, Ebola, and Emerging Viruses"
including one called: "AIDS, Ebola, and Emerging Viruses"

and it is of a direct result of that class that today I am a hypochondriac.
and it is of a direct result of that class that today I am a hypochondriac.

Number 2: Interpersonal relationships
Number 2: Interpersonal relationships

So most people, when they start college they're pretty worried about making friends.
So most people, when they start college they're pretty worried about making friends.

So here's some advice,
So here's some advice,

first be nice to every one. Also, just be calm,
first be nice to every one. Also, just be calm,

Like I dont know if this is true for any one else, but when I get into social situations
Like I dont know if this is true for any one else, but when I get into social situations

where I feel uncomfortable I can be a little bit like:
where I feel uncomfortable I can be a little bit like:

[ Insane sounds ] HELLO HELLO I'M JOHN GREEN
[ Insane sounds ] HELLO HELLO I'M JOHN GREEN

[ More insane sounds ]
[ More insane sounds ]

I WANNA BE FRIENDS! I wanna be friends. I wanna be friends.
I WANNA BE FRIENDS! I wanna be friends. I wanna be friends.

I cant hide it. I cant hide it. Oh my God I want to be friends with you so bad.
I cant hide it. I cant hide it. Oh my God I want to be friends with you so bad.

And uh that's scary for people.
And uh that's scary for people.

Umm a couple other things. Never refer to kissing as scoring
Umm a couple other things. Never refer to kissing as scoring

Never refer to the ladies as "The Ladies"
Never refer to the ladies as "The Ladies"

And uh, try not to pee or throw up on anyone else or their belongings.
And uh, try not to pee or throw up on anyone else or their belongings.

I realize that's pretty base level advice for those of us who are potty trained
I realize that's pretty base level advice for those of us who are potty trained

but you would be astonished how many people have difficulty following that advice
but you would be astonished how many people have difficulty following that advice

during college -- Which brings me to binge drinking.
during college -- Which brings me to binge drinking.

sometimes there seems to be only 2 types of college students these days.
sometimes there seems to be only 2 types of college students these days.

Those who binge drink with alarming frequency
Those who binge drink with alarming frequency

and those who define themselves primarily in opposition to that binge drinking.
and those who define themselves primarily in opposition to that binge drinking.

I would submit that neither of these worldviews are particularly attractive.
I would submit that neither of these worldviews are particularly attractive.

I mean no one likes a holier-than-thou judgementalist
I mean no one likes a holier-than-thou judgementalist

but on the other hand no one likes to vomited upon.
but on the other hand no one likes to vomited upon.

That's not true John.
That's not true John.

Well it should be.
Well it should be.

But let me encourage all college students to embrace identities that don't involve alcohol.
But let me encourage all college students to embrace identities that don't involve alcohol.

Like just join some clubs or something. there are so many clubs in college.
Like just join some clubs or something. there are so many clubs in college.

Thats something else I would say; join clubs
Thats something else I would say; join clubs

but not just one club. People who belong to just one club
but not just one club. People who belong to just one club

are super annoying.
are super annoying.

Cause they'll never shut up about their one club like it the only one club that matters
Cause they'll never shut up about their one club like it the only one club that matters

like the only place that needs to be free is Tibet
like the only place that needs to be free is Tibet

I love you Tibet, it's nothing personal. I just also love Burma
I love you Tibet, it's nothing personal. I just also love Burma

4: Road Trips
4: Road Trips

Take them.
Take them.

And lastly: Living on your own except not really because you don't have to clean the toilets.
And lastly: Living on your own except not really because you don't have to clean the toilets.

I'm not going to tell you life in college is easy
I'm not going to tell you life in college is easy

or give you any of the lies how its going to be the best years of your life.
or give you any of the lies how its going to be the best years of your life.

Which it wont unless you have a terrible, terrible life.
Which it wont unless you have a terrible, terrible life.

But the great thing about college is that it creates this weird in-between space
But the great thing about college is that it creates this weird in-between space

where you're no longer a child but you also don't have to do all of the annoying things
where you're no longer a child but you also don't have to do all of the annoying things

about being an adult like cleaning your own toilets.
about being an adult like cleaning your own toilets.

Well you don't if you don't have a dorm room. Sorry for people who don't have dorm rooms
Well you don't if you don't have a dorm room. Sorry for people who don't have dorm rooms

because now I'm just taunting you.
because now I'm just taunting you.

but this in-between space gives you, for the first time in your life, time to pick what you want to do.
but this in-between space gives you, for the first time in your life, time to pick what you want to do.

So you can read Foucault and talk about Foucault with some of the smartest people you'll ever meet
So you can read Foucault and talk about Foucault with some of the smartest people you'll ever meet

And you can also skip a biology test to drive to the Grand Canyon with a girl you met the day before.
And you can also skip a biology test to drive to the Grand Canyon with a girl you met the day before.

Don't let the freedom of that moment get by you.
Don't let the freedom of that moment get by you.

So that's my-- oh and one other thing, don't get too excited about the fountainhead.
So that's my-- oh and one other thing, don't get too excited about the fountainhead.

Hank I'll see you on Friday
Hank I'll see you on Friday