Even though I'm a fourth year, I only have lived of the elusive "college experience". But even still there are things that we don't really need to worry about. Because there are bigger and better things to do in life. Welcome to the beginning of the rest of your life.
1. Fitting in/Finding Friends
When I first came to college, I felt so discouraged because I was not the one to be out of my dorm room all the time. In fact, I loved spending time in my dorm room. Eventually I found a place where I didn't feel so alone and because of it I made some amazing friends.
You don't have to rush finding your group or even force yourself onto people. Or even mold yourself to someone else's liking. This is a time of growth and learning where the world is the perfect oyster, that is until you graduate. Reinvention and self discovery are the norm. But that doesn't mean it's time to abandon everything for the sake of the "college experience". Let it come naturally and you will also find your group.
2. Going out (all the time)
Even though most people would be shocked, I think going out is so much fun. I don't do it often but I do make an effort to go. That being said, everything is best in moderation. Food (that isn't "good" for you), people (that irritate you), and even going out should be limited. Not by never going out again, but by making sure that your most basic needs are met. If you have a paper due in the morning, then you really don't need to go out. Because even if you swear you'll get up early and do it, the chances of it happening are slim.
3. Doing what other people are doing
Peer pressure is a real thing and it doesn't end after high school. And we all fall victim to it at some point. Whether we go into it blindly or knowingly make the decision to go along with what ever "it" is, the pressure is still there. Sometimes it's hard to remember your values because being thrown around by the wind makes it impossible to keep the straight path that's meant for you. But that doesn't mean you need to allow yourself to be thrown by the wind.
It's okay not to do whatever everyone else is doing. It's also okay to do what others are doing. What you do is up to you and no one else. It may be easier to follow along on someone else's path, but it will be worthwhile to stay on your own. But while you're here, remember that it's still important to be who you really are. So don't be afraid to stand for what you believe in.
4. Questioning our choices
This is one of those things that everyone falls into. Whether you're in high school or in the middle of your career, you have probably questioned your choices. It's really easy to get caught up in it too. It starts with wondering if you answered something right on your test and ends up with you asking if you made the right choice of major.
No matter what we do, we are never going to know if the choices we make are going to benefit us until we get there. And even though that sounds like it should be on a Hallmark card, it's true. Why waste time worrying about the things we do and don't do? In the end you still can make your dreams/goals a reality.
5. Panicking about the future
Especially at the end of one's college career, the looming pressure to get everything together is real. Job searches are now your best friend and you need to hope that you will have enough experience to qualify. I'm not going to say that this isn't a valid thing to worry about, because it is, but I do think we could worry about it a bit less.
I know that sounds like a huge contradiction, especially with the level of difficulty most college grads face with when they go on the job hunt. But if you're still in college, try to do research when you can and not all the time. Stressing about what's going to happen all the time is not going to be productive when you are finishing up your last year. Because the last thing you need is to postpone graduating.
6. Wondering if you could have done things differently
This one is a good friend of number 4 and almost like a cousin to number 6. When we question our choices, we tend to start wondering if there was anything that we could have done differently. And we all do this. Regardless if it is about our day to day interactions or the things we say to the people we care about, this always seems to weigh heavy in our minds.
If you did do something wrong or hurt someone, then maybe the best option is to apologize. If not, then don't put too much pressure on yourself. Unless someone tells you that you hurt them, you have done nothing wrong. Everything happens in the past and we just need to remember to leave it there.
These are only some of the things that college students don't need to worry about. And I'm sure college students around the world could come up with more that could fill a whole book. Maybe one day we can band together and make a book about it some day. That way some one else's journey is not so stressful.
