There are times where I want to give up. Give up on dreams that I think about the moment I open my eyes in the morning, but how can someone that is so driven still feel this way? Am I the only one that feels all this ambition to do stuff and then hold myself back? No. Nope. Nada. Everyone feels this emotion of procrastination about their own life especially college students.
We are always told to put school first and to get good grades, however, how are we branding our personas and lives for our careers and futures? We aren't and that's where we hold off in growth within ourselves and to truly find who YOU are. Most of us feel focused on outside parties that don't particularly help you in the direction you're going in with yourself – whether it is school, family, friends, work, or outside activities.
You become so invested into these outside parties that you start to forget about yourself. For example, if a colleague texts you to go out you're more than likely to drop everything you're doing for YOURSELF to do something for someone else or to be a part of something "more." Or you are more likely to finish an assignment for a class rather than do a project for an internship because you do not want to get a "bad" grade.
You in that moment stop growing as a person for yourself and begin to lose that value of a future – a future that truly is your future and your happiness. I see so many students on campus that have all these dreams of becoming a doctor or a graphic designer but haven't even begun the steps to get there. Yeah, you're in college and learning about your field in class BUT you still need to do your researching and networking outside of it! Do you realize how much happens in a day?
I didn't until I took time for myself and hung out with myself. SO many of us are scared of that concept of being alone but I promise you it is the healthiest thing you can do. I just began my journey with myself to find this love and to find who I truly am. It is so hard when I begin my work and I have that thought in my head that I might be missing out on something, whether it is a party, hanging out with my friends, or getting more work hours. It creates a distraction and doesn't help me focus on my goal of perusing my dreams and goals, which is why I became comfortable with myself. While becoming content with yourself, also get your foot in the door. Networking is the most amazing thing a college student can do, I genuinely feel smarter and more optimistic about my future when I push myself to that extreme.
There are so many opportunities on campus for students to meet with professionals, however, every time I've gone to one there is only about seven other people there. WHY? Because they aren't branding themselves, learning, or putting priorities for their own life FIRST. I promise you if you give time for yourself, you will feel so much better and will begin to feel like you will never give up on that dream.
I'm not sure if any of this made sense, but my main goal in this was to tell you not to invest that much time into others especially if you're a college student. We are so young and so capable of beautiful enlightenment that so many of us are being pulled away from. And by what? The culture of this new world. Popularity. Instagram following. Reality. Sharing stories. Nothing is private and nothing is sacred. So, do it yourself.
Keep yourself private and hold on to the things you value because in this life it is so easy to lose it all. Social media has changed the ways our minds work, but if you truly give time for yourself you won't feel like your dreams are being flown away and you'll catch them soon enough.