Being Themselves
College means meeting new people; no matter your year, major or Greek affiliation, like your first party, first open class discussion or meeting your hallmates. College is certainly a time for you to “try on” lots of different friends, interests and ideas to see what works for you. Obviously not everything is going to work, but it’s easy to feel the pressure of being someone you’re not. This can cause more strain in your social interactions and generally more unhappiness with yourself. Speaking up in class and making new friends is a lot harder if you’re feeling constant pressure to be “good enough.” College is all about seeing who you are and who you aren’t. It takes a while for you to find where you fit in (yes, even if you’re a senior), so give yourself a hot minute to figure that out! Whatever you’re going through, despite all the confusion, don’t allow pressure to make you someone who you ultimately know you’re not.
Showing Emotion
In a world of read receipts, rejection letters,and pretending to look busy when you see your crush coming, hiding true emotions can be part of this game we’re playing. How many times have you tried to act like it didn’t hurt your feelings when you got a low grade on a test? Or didn’t get accepted to a program you really put your heart into? From friends to boys to academics, biting your tongue and acting like you don’t care may be an essential part of survival. However, you might find it beneficial to own up to your feelings. Instead of the usual white lie pretending you don’t care that all your friends are too busy for a movie night, why not find ways you can be a little more honest to yourselves and others? Humans feel stuff, sometimes we’re sad; be proud of that!
Seeking Opportunity
Never at any given point should a collegiette settle for less than she wants if she’s willing to work hard for more. If you want that internship, that promotion, that cutie’s number, those grades, that great opportunity — you shouldn’t feel shy to ask for it. It can be scary to break out of your usual routine, but there’s that possibility that what you want is something totally reasonable to request. Seeking out and snagging new opportunity, no matter how small or large, is the first step to bettering yourself as a person.
Having Fun
Something every collegiette can relate to is stress and lack of free time. Sometimes you have to look at yourself in the mirror, forgive yourself for the dark under-eyes, and say, “I need a break.” Taking a de-stressing break to do something you genuinely enjoy is absolutely pivotal to coming back to problems with a fresh perspective. Allow yourself to step away for a while, play some Just Dance with your roommate, sing Taylor Swift in the shower (I swear by this one), or grab some friends and paint the town! You’ll notice in an environment surrounded by working, thinking students like yourself, we all have different ways of taking breaks. Some of us love to turn off all the noise and cuddle up with some Netflix, and some of us love to get loud and proud in big social groups. There’s nothing wrong with either. Next time you’re faced with the dilemma of studying another hour (while risking your mental health), or going out for some Sweet Frog with your friends, remember to not be afraid of having a little fun!
Not Having The Answers
As college students, sometimes we are expected to know the answers to everything at any given time. “A or B?” “What do you want to do with your life?” “What are you doing this weekend?” “Why didn’t you finish your homework?” and sometimes shaking your head and admitting you have no clue is a little too much embarrassment for us to handle. When a professor assigns a big group project, and you don’t even know who you’ll pick as your partners yet, don’t sweat it. Trust yourself a little. Next time you are pressured at a family barbeque to know exactly what you want to do with a degree you’re not even halfway through yet, don’t be afraid to admit you don’t know.