In high school, I did not participate in very much - I went to a few football games, did a couple of events for Future Teachers of America, went on the Junior/Senior class trip, worked, and danced on a competitive dance team outside of school. That was what me and my friends did - we only did the things we truly liked, and ignored all the rest. A couple people mentioned we might not get into a good school because we had not "built our resumes," but we didn't care.
Fast forward a few years. History is repeating itself - I am involved in 5 clubs on my college campus but I am considered "unambitious" by a lot of my peers. It seems like these days you have to be involved in enough activities that you barely have time to sit down and eat a meal or watch a TV show anymore.
So, I have to ask, when did busy become the new normal?
When did we go from slower, more purposeful days to rushed, caffeine-fueled days? And why did we? Why do we no longer have time to read a book or do anything else? Why has it gone from "leisure time" to "lazy time"?
As a society, we need to slow down.
Don't worry about whatever unnecessary thing you are about to do, make yourself some hot chocolate, a cup of tea, a soda, whatever, and just take some you time. Read a book. Catch up on Game of Thrones. Do whatever it is you've secretly been dying to. And whatever you do - do it with absolutely no guilt. Do not let anyone tell you that you aren't dedicated enough, that you are lazy, or anything else.
We are young. We are 19, 20, 21, 22 or so. We have so many years ahead. How can we enjoy them if we burn ourselves out at this point?
But I get it - we want a good future, and we think being overly involved in college is the only way. We think that if we aren't running ourselves ragged, we aren't doing enough. But there are other ways - being more meaningful in what we do, for example. Don't join every leadership group just because it sounds good. Join less clubs overall and be more involved in a few specific clubs that closely relate to your field.
So, this is one is for all the freshman who are afraid they are not doing enough. You are not lazy. You are just pacing yourself, and that's okay. I vividly remember reading a quote (though I am not so sure of the source): "You all have a little bit of ‘I want to save the world’ in you, that’s why you’re here, in college. I want you to know that it’s okay if you only save one person, and it’s okay if that person is you."
Take time for yourself. You will thank yourself (or me, that's cool too) later.
