If there is one thing I can take from four years in college, it’s that the most important things in life to learn are those that can’t be taught in a classroom.

All those great memories generated during the course of the last few years will surely be etched in my mind for many years, but those times spent cramming for tests the next morning have long since passed without an afterthought.

But I’m not going to bore you by preaching about how great my time at Ohio State was. More than likely, you seniors have had just as great a time as me.

I will, however, leave you with a brief list of some random things I’ve done during my time here and reasons why no classroom could ever measure up to life’s teachings.

Event one: My buddy and I drove 30-straight hours to Glendale for the 2006 national championship game. With a large excursion van in hand, we removed the back seat, threw down a mattress and hooked up a PlayStation for the ultimate road trip.

Lesson learned: 30 hours is an ungodly drive. Though it is a worthwhile experience to try at least once, I wouldn’t recommend it – especially when driving straight through. I’ve never been car sick before. That drive made it happen. Oh yeah, I also learned the Buckeyes have a bit of a problem trying to stop slant passes down the middle.

Event two: When that big snowstorm swept through campus last year, my roommates and I climbed to a first story roof with the intentions of jumping off into the three-foot deep snow drifts. Now I know what you’re thinking, stupid, right? Well, I agree, which is precisely why I convinced one of my roommates not to jump for fear of reaggravating an old ankle injury. My other roommate – not so smart. He pushed himself off when we weren’t looking.

Lesson learned: Stupid choices don’t mean bad choices. Sure, he twisted his ankle up a bit, but he gimped with pride for a week in an event that epitomized stupidity. But hey, add that moment to the list of events we’ll never forget.

Event three: Remember that wind storm that ripped the campus apart last fall? Well, it took our power out for four days. And it was the best thing to happen to us.

Lesson learned: There is a life outside of Facebook – and a world that extends far beyond the networking abilities of the Internet. Every one of those nights was spent on a random neighbors’ front porch where we introduced ourselves and formed new friendships. Even the worse situations can sometimes generate the best results.

Event four: I graduated from OSU after four blissful years of a college education.

Lesson learned: Place just as much stock in your after hours as you do your education. With as much work as it takes to earn a college degree, it is quite easy to set aside a social life for late night cramming. Don’t fall victim to the monatomy of life in the classroom. I can assure you one thing: You are going to remember the good times with friends far better than those lessons in the classrooms. And that’s a lesson no tuition can buy.

Matt Gottfried can be reached at [email protected].