The outrageously long winter break, combined with the holiday season, can test us in many ways. Arguably, one of the hardest tests is being right at the dining room table.
“So, what’s your plan once you graduate?”
Gulp.
As we live in the cycle of never-ending trends, we are currently in the productivity trend, where consistent performance is glorified, and self-worth is based on measurable achievements. As this trend emerges, it can intensify students’ fear of being behind.
But where did all this fear of being “behind” come from?
In the broad scheme of things, the world is moving faster.
Think about it: There is always something bigger and better than what you just bought last month, just like iPhones.
Social media apps, like TikTok, have played a huge role in this shift. As you scroll aimlessly, you can’t help but come across many intense “day in my life” videos of students doing a million things before their 8 a.m.
As you look at these successful influencers appearing on your feed, think about how many of them were college students too. Rather than a traditional office job, they found a different way to flourish in a profession that didn’t exist 10 years ago, serving as a prime example of the jobs waiting to be discovered in our constantly evolving world.
Yet, as the pace of life accelerates and the job market becomes more competitive, it can make students feel like they have to be in constant competition with themselves and others.
Whether that’s getting an internship, joining a new club or doing anything to maximize your resume, there are plenty of ways to provoke students’ feelings of being “behind.”
It could be something as simple as seeing the person sitting next to you in class taking intensive color-coded notes on their iPad while the professor’s voice sounded like white noise to you. These comparisons kill you, and just because your life doesn’t look like what other people are doing around you, doesn’t take away from any of your own qualities.
On a more intimidating side, the fear of being behind can stem from something as daunting as not seeing yourself pursuing a career with your graduating major.
Yet, only 27% of college grads have a job related to their major, according to the Washington Post.
Funny how that works.
Now, instead of a dining room table, I want you to picture yourself sitting around a warmly lit kitchen table. The adults are all talking over each other, saying “you have time,” or emphasizing how their major doesn’t have anything to do with the job they’ve had for 20 years now.
Channel that kitchen room energy.
It’s time to put the perception of being behind on the back burner. While you’re at it, throw perfectionism and comparison on it, too.
As the bar keeps rising around you, it can feel tempting to chase after it. However, when you realize that our definition of success was never meant to be the same, that urge to run after it starts to fade. And when you feel that nagging voice lingering in the back of your mind, instead of fueling it with another to-do list, acknowledge it, push it forward and talk it through.
It seems easier said than done, and I am not going to say that there are days when I don’t believe the notion of not doing enough. That would be a fat lie, similar to being behind.
Yet, instead of focusing on the internship you don’t have or a job that hasn’t called you back, start focusing on the things we are lucky enough to have, like an education. Our generation takes for granted what we already have because we have created a new norm of always having to do more. But honestly, will there ever be a time when you are completely satisfied with all you have done? If not, then there’s every reason to enjoy where you are right now, no matter where that stands.
The common misconception with these articles is that readers think we mean to do nothing. Don’t get it twisted: opportunities won’t always fall into your lap (unless you have some serious connections). You should try in everything you do, but rather than feeling like you are in a constant race, slow down and realize there is no race.
Veronica White is a junior at UT this year studying hospitality management. She can be reached at [email protected].
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