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In many ways, college and preschool are very much alike. At each, nap time is very important. In preschool, students drink from thermoses; during college, they drink from flasks. In preschool, you think some girls might have cooties; in college, you know that some girls really do.

But another similarity between these two educational bookends is that in both preschool and college, the lessons learned outside the classroom are often more important than the ones learned within. This is certainly true at UCLA.

I don’t want to undermine the incredible professors and courses we have at this university. No one can deny every student on this campus is extremely fortunate to be exposed to some of the most influential personalities in the world of academia. Lectures on subjects ranging from American reconstruction to atmospheric sciences can be given with such enthusiasm that every student in the room becomes enthralled with the material.

But once college is over, it will be your experiences, encounters and endeavors that will shape the person you become, not your classes.

For most people, the educating process begins during their freshmen years in the dorms. It seems almost paradoxical that, in spite of being in a crowded dormitory, this is the first time many people find out what it’s like to truly live on their own. It’s true that meals are provided for you, bathrooms are cleaned by someone else, and you never even need to touch a lawn mower. But the fact remains that in college, you seem to control every aspect of your life. Curfews can turn into breakfast appointments, laundry becomes a suggestion, and the tray you carry your food on is the only part of the meal that is well-balanced.

It is during this time that every student must make a choice. Students must decide if they want to take advantage of their newfound freedoms by exploiting them, or if they will grab this opportunity to take responsibility for themselves and begin to discover what they want out of life.

After the awe of self-sufficiency, the most educating process students undertake regards the different activities in which they become involved. These interests not only present a way for students to make a large university a little smaller, but they can also be the motivations behind future ventures.

For so many students, their involvement in activities such as journalism, university politics and community service has served as the backbone for their careers. Through these aims, students have acquired the skills necessary to prosper in their desired fields. They have gained the experience needed to handle any task, meeting others along the way who would like nothing more than to help them succeed. They have gained real-world experience and that cannot be taught in a classroom.

And developing friendships that will last the rest of your life is the greatest achievement of all.

It is away from those foldaway desks and cramped seats where you will get to know the people who will do anything for you, who would do anything just to make your day a tiny bit better. I was recently reminded that if you have at least one true friend, then you have succeeded in life. If you have met someone like that during your time here, then you have accomplished everything, no matter what your GPA might say to the contrary.

Only a few hours a day are spent in the classroom. The rest of the day must be devoted toward exploring the surrounding world and living life the way it should be lived. Live to learn. For those who choose to be taught by the process of life, the rewards are found not in grades or bragging rights, but rather in the satisfaction of making yourself a better person.

Pfohl is a fourth-year history and political science student. E-mail him at jpfohl@media.ucla.edu. Send general comments to viewpoint@media.ucla.edu.