Peter Pan flying. Signifies the importance and necessity of growing up. Image from Theodysseyonline.com
Like Wendy, initially in “Peter Pan”, growing up is nerve-wracking. I am realizing this more often as each semester flies by. There are many moments when I have absolutely loved living in my college years and the independence that comes with it. Networking with so many new people from different cities and backgrounds has brought me life-long friendships. I have learned what it is like to live by myself and explore more on what I really want to do in the marketing field. Three years in, I can confidently say that I am not the same person I was when I first entered college. I’ve also realized how little I knew about “adulting”. Many people talk about how college changes you dramatically, and it is very true, but it’s not all sunshine and rainbows. There is now a growing list of responsibilities, and I have gotten trapped in taking on too much that ultimately led to burnout. I hope to give some advice I have learned over the years and provide transparency on what I am still working on today.
My freshman year was all about exploration. I just graduated high school, and I’m diving headfirst into a much larger environment with total strangers. Everyone looked so much more mature, and it definitely gave me that drive to truly find my place at SJSU. The first few months were rough until I joined three different organizations that interested me. I found so many like-minded people and started going out more, trying new foods, and making memories. That first year was probably one of the best years of my life.Â
My freshman year was abruptly cut short due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Everything slowed down; I ended up becoming more introverted and less motivated in professionally developing myself. Now that I am back in-person during my upperclassmen years, it feels as though time went by too fast. There have been a handful of times where I do not feel like a junior in college, and it brought a sense of anxiety. Time is running out; in just a year, I will no longer be a college student but a real adult in the world. Through this fear, I started becoming overwhelmed with responsibilities while continuing to put myself on more opportunities that come my way. I feel that I can not say no, but risk myself in being burnt out easily. I have only begun to realize how much it can affect my mental and physical health.Â
Everyone is on their own path. Read that sentence again. The phrase is one that I’ve constantly kept reminding myself, and I hope you do too. You do not need to compare yourself to others because we all have our own dreams and desires. Find what YOU love doing and do what is needed to make your goals a reality. Find those people that you are comfortable with. Find those who will support everything you do instead of tearing you down. It is easier said than done, but also know what you can handle. We are all caught up in wanting to do more because other people are doing more. Believe and have faith in yourself. You will get to where you want at the right time. Embrace the process towards your dreams and keep living life. Make growing up something exciting instead of the opposite! As we grow, we continue to become better versions of ourselves, and it is beautiful.Â
What is some advice you would give for those who fear growing up? Let us know by tagging us on Instagram, @HerCampusSJSU!