By: Julie Dannevig
Between being surrounded by high achieving peers and juggling assignments from demanding professors, feelings of success and satisfaction can be hard to come by as a college student. While readjusting to pre-pandemic campus norms this semester, I have been painfully reminded of the added pressures that come with in-person classes, clubs, and events. I’ve personally had to recognize and give myself credit for the effort it takes to jump full-swing back into this taxing lifestyle. This semester, in particular, I have been dealing with an ever-present sense of dissatisfaction and unrest. Having the opportunity to be in-person after a year and a half of restrictions was gratifying at first, as it inspired motivation and opened many doors for me. However, I found that gratification quickly turned to feeling overwhelmed and unable to keep up.
Whether it be your roommate who is on the e-board of what seems like every club UMass offers or your lab partner who has already been accepted into their dream internship for next summer, it’s easy to feel as though everyone around you is running ten miles ahead. I have come to realize, however, this comparison is not only unproductive but for some, it can be downright debilitating.
As I entered the latter half of my college career this semester, I fell into a panicked mindset and felt as though if I didn’t get my life together immediately, I would never get a job post-graduation. As a result, I found myself maniacally signing up for clubs, spamming my LinkedIn with posts, and applying to any and every internship position I could find on HandShake. My efforts, however, were not very fruitful and I wasn’t transformed into a stellar, standout student (shocking, I know). After a brief reality check followed by a strong dose of introspection, I forced myself to step back from this manic episode, take a breath and remind myself that college is not a competition and trying to do everything is only a recipe for exhaustion.
It is so easy to fall into the trap of comparing yourself to peers and thinking you are not doing enough, but it’s important to remember this mindset rarely gets you far. In order to keep myself grounded, I try to take time out of the week to not think about work and do something for myself. Whether it be going to a class at the rec center or watching a movie with a friend, taking a step back from academics can be so effective in avoiding total burnout. I also make it a point to remind myself that college will not always be fun and in reality, it often just instigates stress and self-doubt. Recognizing that these feelings are normal and undoubtedly shared by many of my peers helps me to remember that hard times do pass and it’s important to remain realistic about my own abilities so I don’t push myself too far.
Taking control of your college career by joining clubs you are passionate about, taking courses that are relevant to your aspirations and, most importantly, staying present to appreciate and enjoy your fleeting youth is ultimately what will enable you to build your strengths, develop confidence in your work and allow you to flourish in the many years ahead.