Living on a university campus, it is all too easy to get caught up in the college bubble. The college bubble is a lot of fun, and it is something most will look back on with warm nostalgia. At the same time, it can be a lot at the moment. Whenever you’re living in a secluded space, you are in danger of getting that good ole end-of-the-world feeling when stuff goes wrong. It can be really hard to put things into perspective. With the excitement of making a future for yourself, you still have to grapple with the pressure of making that future as good as possible.
I recommend making a list of things that have made you happy in the past, things that make you happy now and things that you see making you happy in the future. When making my own, I was not surprised to see that career goals made it on there, but I was surprised to see how small a role they played in the list. Instead, my family, my friends and little things like watching my favorite movie in bed or taking naps (you gotta love naps) are what matter most to me.
This doesn’t mean you shouldn’t focus on school. In college, you’ll have to put a great amount of effort into your studies. However, knowing that, at the end of the day, the things that matter aren’t your GPA or resume makes it a little bit easier to breathe. Therefore, when the college bubble makes you feel stuck, alone or hopeless, the most productive thing you can do is take that nap or Facetime that friend. You get to decide what matters to you. Don’t let anyone else dictate the order of your priorities; they are yours for a reason. The world is a big place, and there is always something out there for you.