These words have possibly been the best reassurance I’ve heard in recent years.
In college, life is all about taking risks and being unreasonably worried about the outcome. That’s just the way things go. Nearly every college student is constantly riddled with nerves, but that’s not necessarily a bad thing.
We constantly have tests to study for and final projects to work on. It seems our grades are always just below where we want them to be.
Finding internships and work within our respective fields can also be unbelievably stressful or a downright nightmare. We send in our resumes and cover letters, and spend the next few days crossing our fingers and praying we get selected.
I, like many others I know, spend hours editing my LinkedIn page and resume, perfecting every last detail down to the word to make myself look more attractive to employers. I move commas around endlessly and worry if the profile picture I chose looks professional enough.
Beyond our academic lives, we have extracurricular responsibilities or part-time jobs to work. If we’re not stuck worrying about those, we’re likely overthinking our friendships or relationships.
All of those worries show that we’re excited about the opportunities that lie ahead of us. Being nervous can be good — to an extent.
Nerves can even sometimes make us perform better and put our best foot forward, helping us in the long run. Nerves give us dedication and a heightened passion for the task at hand. They help us prove to ourselves that we value what we’re doing.
Think back to the summer before you started college. Remember how nervous you were to move away from home and start completely anew? Looking back, that fear seems so silly.
You didn’t even know it yet, but you were about to find a new place and feel like you belonged somewhere. College seemed so scary and you probably didn’t know if you’d be able to do it. I certainly didn’t.
We were so nervous because we cared and we wanted this chapter in our lives to go well. The fear felt debilitating for a bit, but then it went away.
As your first semester went by, you got more comfortable. You started to be able to find your way around campus, and the next steps towards your future became a little clearer.
To be anxious and afraid of what’s to come isn’t necessarily a bad thing. That means you’re stepping outside of your comfort zone and taking a chance on what’s to come.
Good things are worth being nervous over; that means it’s worth the time and effort. Life is all about taking chances and seeing what happens.
We can’t dictate what will happen, but what we can do is try our best. If you do just that, eventually you’ll see those same nerves turn into excitement. You may not see it coming, but the chapter you’re so afraid of might turn out to be your favorite.
Next time you’re nervous about a job application or joining a new club, remember how well being nervous has worked out for you. You’ve made it this far by caring, and you’ll keep going farther as long as you keep caring.