College Is A Sliver Of Life: A Change In Perspective | The Odyssey Online
Start writing a post
Student Life

College Is A Sliver Of Life: A Change In Perspective

We must see past our struggles in this present moment

33
College Is A Sliver Of Life: A Change In Perspective
the Changeover

Many times I find myself ruminating on an assignment. Is this essay well-researched? Will I get a good grade on this assignment? I constantly calculate my grades mentally and think about school all the time. I realized the other day, as I sat down to dinner with my friends, how consumed my life is with school: Undergraduate, GRE, Graduate School, rinse and repeat. I wasn't truly in the moment during dinner; I checked for an email from a professor and fretted over a math exam score in my head. I just need to stop. I have such difficulty seeing beyond this moment in my life where everything is uncertain: my career, my home, that I'm not enjoying life. I'm so busy checking responsibilities off a mental checklist that I forget this isn't my whole life, just a fraction. I know I'm not the only one that does this. I hear frazzled students complain about test scores, professors, and final grades on the sidewalks on the way to class.

We all need to take a collective deep breath and stop allowing college to consume our lives.

This doesn't mean that we ignore our responsibilities to school work, but we need to prioritize the facets of our lives so that one doesn't dominate the other. Take a walk and really look at the world around you. When I walked to class last week, I noticed that some of the red tulips planted in the flower beds were already in blooming, beginning to open for the season. A little vibrancy to break up the gloominess of a grey, cloudy sky. Absorb the small joys of life: laughter, tea with friends, and the opportunity to read a good book. These are the activities that represent bliss, that I will remember for the rest of my life, not if I earned an "A" on a project.

There is a certain brand of narcissism that creeps in when we let concerns about school dictate our thoughts. Our problems are so magnified that we become so self-absorbed, and don't realize that others are struggling, too. If you want to get out of a rut and self-pity party, go help someone else, not so that you can see how insignificant your problems are, (this reasoning is problematic for many reasons), but so that you can be productive in someone else's life and put some distance between you and your problems.

You are person worthy of love and support with the potential to make important contributions in society. Your grades, your lack of productivity on Saturdays does not define you as a person. Don't become so consumed with college that you forget that there are other important aspects of your life. This is just a small sliver of your life. Do your homework, take your tests, go to student organization meetings and then be done. Enjoy yourself. You have one chance to be in your twenties, don't squander these moments with divided attention and unnecessary worry.

Report this Content
This article has not been reviewed by Odyssey HQ and solely reflects the ideas and opinions of the creator.
Entertainment

Most Epic Aurora Borealis Photos: October 2024

As if May wasn't enough, a truly spectacular Northern Lights show lit up the sky on Oct. 10, 2024

4454
stunning aurora borealis display over a forest of trees and lake
StableDiffusion

From sea to shining sea, the United States was uniquely positioned for an incredible Aurora Borealis display on Thursday, Oct. 10, 2024, going into Friday, Oct. 11.

It was the second time this year after an historic geomagnetic storm in May 2024. Those Northern Lights were visible in Europe and North America, just like this latest rendition.

Keep Reading...Show less
 silhouette of a woman on the beach at sunrise
StableDiffusion

Content warning: This article contains descriptions of suicide/suicidal thoughts.

When you are feeling down, please know that there are many reasons to keep living.

Keep Reading...Show less
Relationships

Power of Love Letters

I don't think I say it enough...

450692
Illistrated image of a letter with 2 red hearts
StableDiffusion

To My Loving Boyfriend,

  • Thank you for all that you do for me
  • Thank you for working through disagreements with me
  • Thank you for always supporting me
  • I appreciate you more than words can express
  • You have helped me grow and become a better person
  • I can't wait to see where life takes us next
  • I promise to cherish every moment with you
  • Thank you for being my best friend and confidante
  • I love you and everything you do

To start off, here's something I don't say nearly enough: thank you. Thank you, thank you, thank you from the bottom of my heart. You do so much for me that I can't even put into words how much I appreciate everything you do - and have done - for me over the course of our relationship so far. While every couple has their fair share of tiffs and disagreements, thank you for getting through all of them with me and making us a better couple at the other end. With any argument, we don't just throw in the towel and say we're done, but we work towards a solution that puts us in a greater place each day. Thank you for always working with me and never giving up on us.

Keep Reading...Show less
Lifestyle

11 Signs You Grew Up In Hauppauge, NY

Because no one ever really leaves.

22330
Map of Hauppauge, New York
Google

Ah, yes, good old Hauppauge. We are that town in the dead center of Long Island that barely anyone knows how to pronounce unless they're from the town itself or live in a nearby area. Hauppauge is home to people of all kinds. We always have new families joining the community but honestly, the majority of the town is filled with people who never leave (high school alumni) and elders who have raised their kids here. Around the town, there are some just some landmarks and places that only the people of Hauppauge will ever understand the importance or even the annoyance of.

Keep Reading...Show less
Lifestyle

Moana's Top 10 Life Tips

"Moana" is filled with life lessons that involve far more than finding true love as many other Disney movies do.

45227
Animated image of a woman with long dark hair and tattoos
StableDiffusion

1. It's easy to be fooled by shiny things.

Digital image of shiny gemstones in cased in gold. shiny things StableDiffusion

Tamatoa created a liar filled with shiny things simply for the purpose of tricking fish to enter and become his food. He too experiences a lesson in how easy it is to be tricked by shiny things when Moana distracts him by covering herself in glowing algae so Maui can grab his hook.

Keep Reading...Show less

Subscribe to Our Newsletter

Facebook Comments