Remember the last time you got a high score on your Chemistry exam? Yeah, me neither.

Well, it’s 11:36 a.m., and you just received a good score on your Chemistry exam. You’re feeling good. You’re even feeling like you should switch to Chemistry as your major because you’re at your best at the moment. You’ll probably not do this well on the next one, though. How did you even do this well on this one? Why didn’t you get a perfect score on the exam? There were 13 kids that did. You couldn’t perform well under pressure, could you?

You need a distraction. Now you’re on Facebook. You’re scrolling through the NewsFeed seeing how much fun everyone had at their parties this weekend or family events that happened without you while you were studying on Friday and Saturday night. You’re getting a little blue. You’re feeling a little left out. Like you’re not worthy to be at those parties. Remember just 60 seconds ago when you got an A- on your Chemistry exam? Yeah, me neither.

This party seems way cooler. Look how many pictures there are. Stop scrolling through them. Good, you did.

Now you’re on Instagram. Wow, look how much fun everyone from home is doing at their respective colleges. She got thinner, he got taller. Wow! They are on a tropical island living large somewhere! They’re doing so much better than you, right? Remember two minutes ago when you got an A- on your Chemistry exam? Yeah, me neither.

Let’s switch to Snapchat. Wow, that person blacked out last night. You haven’t been to a party like that in awhile. Look, your best friend from home was roaming her campus with friends. You should text her about it. She didn’t answer in 10 seconds? She clearly doesn’t have time for you anymore. Woah, he spent all night in the library. You haven’t pulled an all-nighter studying since last semester. He’s working so much harder than you. I bet he studied harder than you did for that Chem exam. Wait. Remember five minutes ago when you got an A- on your Chem exam? Yeah, me neither.

You are not a Facebook picture with a blurred drink in your hand. You are not an Instagram of some sunset on a tropical beach. You are not a 65-second snapchat story of late-night shenanigans, music raving at party, or jazz playing in a dorm room with good friends and wine. You’re you. You’re beautiful too. You’re smart too. You’re important too.

I know it’s a battle every day in today’s world to find the right balance of self-deprecation and self-acceptance, if there even should be a balance at all. We’ll figure it out as we go along, though. We’re in this together. So do you really want to let other people, other pictures, or events cast a shadow on your fun, your memories, and your life?

Yeah, me neither.

P.S. Congrats on the Chem grade. But, like I said, we’re in this together. So please don’t make it your major.