Am I having an identity crisis? | The Odyssey Online
Start writing a post
Life Stages

Having An Identity Crisis Is Normal, I Promise

The doubt of reality starts to really sinking in when you're in college.

176
Having An Identity Crisis Is Normal, I Promise
Jessica Tran

The majority of us thinks that college is going to be the best time of our lives and we know what we are going to do. This is the time where we start to find and know ourselves. This is the time where we start to assume that adult role and responsibility. However, there are college students that start having an identity crisis. We start questioning who we are and we tend to get stuck in this because we are faced with a challenge to our sense of self.

I'm currently a freshman in college and all year, I've been having an identity crisis which I hate to admit it. I'm supposed to thrive but all I do is sit alone at my dorm room, late at night and crying for hours. I have a mental breakdown a couple of times throughout the year just because I feel like I don't know who I am. All these extracurricular that I have done this year has messed up my head because I feel like I'm not good at anything.

I feel like I don't fit anywhere because I think that I'm a terrible person that doesn't deserve to fit in. I have changed my intended major ten million times and I still don't know what I want to do. I think about transferring to a university near home so I don't feel the need to constantly go home. I call my sister every time when I know that I'm going to breakdown. I just start spilling about how I'm feeling and eventually, I get over myself.

However, I have learned from my wise sister that everyone doesn't know what they want and who they are. If they do, they are most likely a psycho. There are going to be times of uncertainty and that's just how life works. We have to shape who we want to be by living our life and learning through experiences. Not even one semester is going to tell us who we are, but it is a piece that contributes to our identity. Every experience shapes who we are going to be. It sticks with us and how it impacts the choices that we make in the future. Interaction of people and places that you go have the biggest impact on how we identify ourselves.

Though, no matter where we end up, we will always have an identity crisis because of new experiences. College is a new experience so it's where we struggle the most with our identity. So it's extremely important to develop strong relationships to help propel us with finding our identity. Sometimes, the identity we create is not the one that we want or expect. Maybe it's because of who we need to be, not who we want to be. However, no matter what, we will continue on the roads with different directions that pave the way for our ever-changing identities.

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

It's the most wonderful time of the year! Christmas is one of my personal favorite holidays because of the Christmas traditions my family upholds generation after generation. After talking to a few of my friends at college, I realized that a lot of them don't really have "Christmas traditions" in their family, and I want to help change that. Here's a list of Christmas traditions that my family does, and anyone can incorporate into their family as well!

Keep Reading...Show less
Student Life

The 5 Phases Of Finals

May the odds be ever in your favor.

1327
Does anybody know how to study
Gurl.com

It’s here; that time of year when college students turn into preschoolers again. We cry for our mothers, eat everything in sight, and whine when we don’t get our way. It’s finals, the dreaded time of the semester when we all realize we should have been paying attention in class instead of literally doing anything else but that. Everyone has to take them, and yes, unfortunately, they are inevitable. But just because they are here and inevitable does not mean they’re peaches and cream and full of rainbows. Surviving them is a must, and the following five phases are a reality for all majors from business to art, nursing to history.

Keep Reading...Show less
Student Life

How To Prepare For The Library: Finals Edition

10 ways to prepare for finals week—beginning with getting to the library.

2742
How To Prepare For The Library: Finals Edition
Photo by Clay Banks on Unsplash

It’s that time of year again when college students live at the library all week, cramming for tests that they should have started studying for last month. Preparing to spend all day at the library takes much consideration and planning. Use these tips to help get you through the week while spending an excessive amount of time in a building that no one wants to be in.

Keep Reading...Show less
girl roommates
StableDiffusion

Where do we begin when we start talking about our roommates? You practically spend every moment with them, they become your second family and they deal with you at your best and at your absolute worst. They are there to make you laugh just a little harder, cry a little less and make each day a little better. We often forget to thank them for the little things that they do to make college even a tiny bit easier and more fun. This list of 26 things are what you should thank your roommates for right this minute and every day that you live with them.

Keep Reading...Show less
Student Life

20 Thoughts While Studying For Finals

I may or may not be stressing right now.

2800
Thoughts While Studying For Finals
StableDiffusion


That time of the semester has arrived once again, finals. The worst week ever. Who thought it was a good idea for all your classes to have exams all in the same week? Definitely not me. Here's 20 thoughts you may have studying for finals.

Keep Reading...Show less

Subscribe to Our Newsletter

Facebook Comments