Call it senioritis, lack of academic motivation, burnout, whatever you’d like: The truth of the matter is that college students unite in their shared, consistent mental screaming. There’s nothing quite like the peaceful, secure feeling of walking into class, asking “Hey, did anyone do the assigned reading for today?”, and receiving a simultaneous “No” from just about everyone in the class. There truly is solidarity in post-secondary suffering.
In an effort to curb the somewhat half-joke of “I’m going to drop out” said by all college students at least once a semester, Texas A&M decided to give us fall break for the first time ever. And although many other students and I were side-eyeing A&M’s decision (it’s quite unlike a university to just give us days off without a coinciding holiday—please keep doing it), it gave me a great opportunity to reflect on my mental health, just as A&M had hoped for! Here’s how:
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As every other college student has known and experienced, it’s Saturday night, and I don’t feel like making dinner for myself. Do I ever really feel like making food for myself? No, but I’m especially tired after working a 7 hour shift and cleaning my room.
It’s 8:30 PM, and as much as I’d love to DoorDash some food to my apartment right now, I’m a college student. I think my financial situation goes without saying. So now it’s time to raid my fridge. I’m out of pasta, so I can’t make that. I don’t feel like having a salad, and I’m pretty sure my leftovers have gone bad. What else can I make? Hmm…
I can make the one meal I always forget to eat: Breakfast. I have eggs, ham, cheese, and bread, so I can make a breakfast sandwich! Maybe if it’s good enough, I can stop spending all of my money at Starbucks.
It can’t be that hard to make a breakfast sandwich, right? I’ve made breakfast before! I’ve made eggs, ham, toast, and I just need to put it all together and add cheese. Have I ever successfully cooked eggs over easy? No, but TODAY is the day where that all changes! I CAN DO THIS. I’m channeling Gordon Ramsey. I’m an adult. I should know how to cook, right?
Right?!
Whatever. I have my ingredients, I’ve managed to turn on the stove without burning down the place, and I’ve cracked 2 eggs open on the pan. Time to wait for them to heat up so I can flip them over.
It’s not working. Okay, maybe if I try tilting the pan, then it’ll work!
No, that didn’t help. What if I try folding the egg whites over the egg yolk? That should work! And then once it fries a bit more, I can flip it over.
No, that didn’t work either. How am I going to make these sandwiches? I’m going to starve!
How am I ever going to manage functioning by myself if I can’t even make food for myself? I can’t order takeout all the time! I’m a 3rd year college student, set to graduate next semester, and what do I have to show for it? I can’t even cook eggs! I’m gonna spend the rest of my life eating pasta since it’s the only thing I can make. Half of my net worth is going to Starbucks. This is why I only drink coffee for breakfast. I should just give up now.
Screw this. I’m making scrambled eggs.
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At least the sandwiches tasted good.
Though I may be exaggerating to some extent, my cooking fiasco is definitely one shared by a lot of other students, in actual circumstance, but also in the sense of thought and motivation behind it. We just passed midterm season, and I know we’re all kind of going through it right now, so I hope this serves as a good reminder — in whatever way you take it — that struggling is not something you face alone, whether it’s academic, personal, or trying to make eggs. I also hope Texas A&M and more universities push for more mental health days: It gives students a much needed break in our hectic schedules. All in all, wherever you’re at, you’re doing great.
I still think I should’ve ordered McDonalds on Saturday though. ;)