With college decisions coming out for high school seniors and college students applying for summer internships, there seems to be a sense of anxiousness in the air. We have all heard of the pressure to fit in, to fit the mold, to stick to the status quo and we have heard that we should not let peer pressure make us someone who we are not- but what about the other side? This may be when you turn your head with confusion. I am definitely not saying peer pressure is good. Instead, I am saying that there is another side of this story that is not as well addressed – this is the pressure to be different.

Think about it, you want to get into a good school? You have to make sure you stand out! Do you want a summer internship? I can guarantee one of the questions the hiring company will be along the lines of how you differentiate from the rest of the applicants. Thinking about yourself as an individual is crucial for self-confidence and feeling good about yourself. The pressure created by these kinds of questions have made people not just step outside their comfort zones, but also feel obligated to spend their time doing something that they try to convince themselves is worthwhile and that they pretend is something they are passionate about.

I can’t write this article saying that I have not done an activity and thought about the potential gains of it in terms of my education or career, but I can write that after talking to peers and mentors, I am learning that the greatest gains I can get at this point are selfish ones. So, be selfish and I will try to be too. Do things so you can get exposed to new things, so you can find new passions, so you can grow as a person. In the grand scheme of things, even if there is someone else who did the same activities as you or you think has the same qualifications as you, there is no way that two people will gain the same experiences and new level of intellect, even if they both engaged in the same activity. And, qualifications aside, what you will learn and what you personally gain from any experience will be applicable to so many parts of your life, apart from the usual academic and career-oriented aspects that come to mind.

The word selfish is automatically placed under a negative light. Instead, society urges people to be selfless. However, if I can learn anything about this subject from my past experiences and discussing with others, if you do something selfishly, more times than not, you end up sharing your gains with others, whether it is by directly helping someone or sharing your passion and knowledge with others. Step outside your comfort zone and reconsider doing things only because they are the “conventional” thing to do. To quote Ms. Frizzle from the Magic School Bus: “Take Chances, make mistakes, get messy!”