Recently I have been using the phrase “that’s so college” because there have been so many things that happen to me that serve as little reminders that I am in college and I shouldn’t take life too seriously. College is the time when we can screw up, yet have enough time to clean up the mess. Two weeks can seem like forever, yet as they slip by, we realize it was such a short time. In those two, short weeks we have more than enough time to make a new friend, boost our GPA, gain weight (or lose it), meet a new hook up, and mend a mistake. Because of the fast-paced lifestyle college inevitably provides, it is so easy for us to stock up on experiences just within the four years we are here.
My friends know me for being kind of neurotic. I need a plan for everything I do everyday. Last Sunday, I had a set plan and my friend had asked me if I wanted to go to my favorite sandwich place with him, and I started to freak out and because I needed to grab a piece of paper to write out my day, just to make sure a quick lunch fit in…
scary right?
Now, I do believe that my little “post its” filled with plans, and the overload of pages upon pages in my planner serve their purpose and help me stay on top of my responsibilities, however, there needs to be a balance between my work time and play time so I stay sane. And, with a little help from my friends, I have realized that.
The Saturday night before finals last quarter I was studying on campus, by midnight, I decided to switch the scenery and continue my studies at home. I walked into my bedroom and all of my furniture had been moved around. My bed was on the complete opposite side and now faced a different wall. My desk, my vanity, and my fridge were also all jumbled in a new, unfamiliar alignment in my little room. I was shocked and confused, until I saw a laptop on the floor with a black screen and a little green light recording my reaction. Now I knew who was behind this.
In spite of my tendency to try and keep my life in order, I thought the rearrangement was such a funny prank because it pushed me out of my comfort zone. I decided to keep the new layout for my room because it reminds me to calm down and take a breath every time I walk into my room. My friends who pulled the prank admitted to being afraid of how I would react because I could have been very annoyed and angry or loved the humor. This time, I loved the humor and I kept saying to them “it was so funny, that’s so college.”
I can go on an on about the little occurrences in my life that remind me that I am in college and that I will probably have about two more years of these “so college” moments. And yes of course, college is about getting an education, to get you in the right directions to pursue your dreams, but why not balance the serious part of college with the goofy little memories that keep you motivated, and maintain your happiness? Part of college is learning how to balance the different aspects of your life from school to work to Greek life. But what about fun? I feel like it’s so easy to get tangled in our web of responsibilities that we can quickly forget the ever important fact that college is supposed to be fun as well. Why limit yourself to either work or play when college is about doing both?
I <3 College, it really is the best years of my life. And these years will steer me in the right direction so I can continue to love this life and find the balance between fulfilling my responsibilities and happiness.
Love this life.
This life,
your life, it’s beautiful.
Challenging you, pulling you in directions too abstract for a map.
Let it be.
youthful
Be drawn to the unknown,
seek the unattainable.
Be.
memorable
Be aware of the change it brings, and welcome it. Why should the unfamiliar be scary?
Embrace what’s different.
Love yourself ;
Tolerance, Patience, Finesse
Be wild.
-max