5 Confessions of a College Kid: Back to School Thoughts

Happy Tuesday Everyone!

I’m sure by now we are all back to school, and if not, it is probably coming very soon on the horizon, and so I just wanted to take a few moments to type out some of my back to school thoughts and be honest with all y’all about some things I don’t think college kids hear nearly enough..

1. It’s okay to hate college (or at least dislike it)

Yes. You read that right. I don’t think enough people are saying it and so I am. Because for a long time it made me feel like an outcast to not be enjoying every single second I spend on campus. But honestly? Maybe college just isn’t your thing. I mean yes, it’s totally worth it and I wouldn’t ever trade this opportunity; however, being mentally, physically, and emotionally exhausted for 3-4 months straight is not my idea of what a walk in the park looks like.

So don’t let people’s image they’re putting out on social media affect the way you feel or make you think you’re doing it ‘wrong’, because let’s be real here, who actually LIKES taking exams and being swamped with assignments while trying to keep up with a social and extracurricular schedule?

My advice for those of you feeling this way is to find something that always pushes you through. Preferably something that inspires and motivates you. For me, that’s New York City. What gets me through is knowing that there is ALWAYS New York. If I ever need an escape there is always a place with tons of exciting things going on and millions of people with their own story all rushing around. It’s a dream that I plan on turning reality and it also puts into perspective exactly why I’m at college, suffering, but still thriving, just like all of you (:

2. It’s okay to also feel like you haven’t met your life-long friends there

I am fortunate enough to be able to say that I had really great friends in high school, and there is one in particular who no one will ever be able to replace no matter where I go. So don’t feel like you need to leave your old life behind to bring in the bigger and better, because what you already have might just be the pot of gold you think you have to look for and find.

Now, obviously I’m not saying to close off all of your options, but if you feel like maybe there isn’t a group you are clicking with perfectly, you’re normal. Too often did I feel like I was doing something wrong because I just couldn’t relate to my group of friends. That doesn’t mean they’re bad friends or people OR that you should just cut them off, but maybe it’s time to realize that it’s more than okay to know in your heart that maybe they won’t be the people you call at 3am when you’re having a break down over some catastrophic moment in time (:

3. It’s also okay to not have a 4.0 GPA

Now this might get offensive really quick, but, as a Biotechnology major I recognize that things I have to do might be perceived as more difficult than what other majors have to do. Now that doesn’t mean I would ever trade my science major for something else, as I also recognize that English majors write a lot and never in a million years will I be caught dead writing countless amounts of papers; however, don’t be down on yourself when a friend is bragging about their good grades and you just got back a 70 on your bio exam that you LITERALLY studied the past two weeks for.

Also, don’t compare yourself to the overachievers either. They are needed in society but frankly, my life does not revolve around my textbook and if an episode of Project Runway is on, you better believe I’m going to enjoy my night and watch it rather than stuffing my brain with information. That doesn’t mean you aren’t smart, it just means that you prioritize differently than others, and that’s not necessarily a bad thing!

4. Sitting alone in the cafeteria DOESN’T make you a weirdo

This is one I still have to tell myself daily. For some reason there is just such a stigma around eating alone, when in actuality, literally no one notices OR cares. But for some reason it’s like the biggest deal in that moment and you find yourself thinking things like, ‘Omg, are they staring at me?’, ‘Do you think that was a pity glance?’, and ‘I hope no one is talking about me’.

Sometimes it just isn’t convenient to meet up with all of your friends in between classes, and sometimes you might just need some alone time, but truly, it is more than normal to be seen eating alone, and I promise no one is staring at you and giving you looks of sympathy from the next table away. They’re probably actually thinking ‘You go girl’ or ‘I wish I had confidence to eat alone’. I’m guilty of those thoughts anyways, so just bite the bullet and go for it!

5. Call your mom (and FaceTime your dog) as much as possible

Okay, so maybe this one might just apply to me, but there is nothing better than calling my mom when I’m the epitome of stressed. She just gets me like no one else does at school and is always there when I need her. Not to mention she puts up with my video calls and will focus the camera on our golden retriever the entire time. If that doesn’t deserve ‘Mom of the Year’ then I don’t know what does.

This is such a simple thing to do that truly makes me feel so much for at ease and makes my day 10x better than it was before, plus I think it’s nice as a parent to know that your kids still need and think about you even when they are hours away (:

And I think that’s about it for this post! Let me know what you think of it! I don’t think I’ve ever been so honest and open about my feelings before and I truly hope that if it makes one person feel better about their college experience that it was all worth it.

I want you all to know that I’m in no way trying to say college is a bad and awful place, as some pretty awesome things have happened for me there, BUT it isn’t for everyone and at the end of the day, I just can’t wait to be strutting the streets of New York and not stressed out of my mind over 3 exams in one week.

What has your college experience been like so far? Let me know if you agree or disagree with anything on the list, and if you would like more posts like this in the future, but..

Until next time,

xx.Britani Skye

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