To feel inadequate is a sensation that many college students face, I'd say, almost daily. As we attend school with 30,000 of the smartest and brightest, it's often hard to feel like you have any "stand-alone" traits. There's always that person that somehow is on the executive board of multiple organizations who meal preps, works out and has a 4.0 GPA. Here's the thing: we all tend to compare ourselves to these people. But why? Why do we compare ourselves to these "extremes?" to only make ourselves feel "average." Here's the cold, hard truth that every college student needs to hear today:
You are doing enough.
It's okay that you're having a hard time balancing your schoolwork and social life. It's okay that you don't have leadership roles in all of the organizations you may be apart of. It's okay to constantly feel stressed, time-crunched and to hope for the weekend every week. It's also okay to not be 1000% in love with your major. Yes, I'm sure you know those people who live, eat, breathe (insert major here) and every single day they're "living the dream." If this is you, honestly great for you. However, if you're like me and sometimes hate all of your classes, struggle with motivation and just really want the semester to be over sometimes: you're not alone.
In my opinion, as college students, we begin to feel very average. I know for many people I know, it was hard to transition from a "big fish in a little pond" AKA your high school to a "small fish in a huge pond" AKA college. Obviously, this transition can be incredibly intimidating. Here's what you have to know: there's always going to be someone who can have it all. These people will overachieve in every aspect of their lives, and still seem to have it all together.
Realize that these people are not the "norm."
I'm 99.9% certain that there are thousands of people around you feeling similarly. You're not alone, and you never will be. Stop comparing yourself to these people around you "who seem to have it all." We've all heard it a thousand times... that everyone has their own problems. While yes, this is true, it's often kind of hard to see that.
Take it from me.
I'm one of the guiltiest people when it comes to this. While I am good at recognizing my own accomplishments and being proud of myself, I see people around me who are doing "so much more" and often feel like I am underachieving. I have to remind myself daily that, simply, I am doing the very best I can and that is enough.
"No one can make you feel inferior without your consent."
My mom always reminds me of this quote from Eleanor Roosevelt, and I think it's pretty powerful. It's so true, we ourselves are the ones who allow ourselves to compare, make judgments of ourselves and feel inferior. It is a decision we make, whether conscious or not. Since it is our own choice, choose against it. Make the decision to realize that you are doing great, no matter what, and that you are being the best "you" that you can be. In the end, it's all we can really do, anyway.
A message to every college student: You are by no means inadequate. Just be the very best "you." Choose to feel superior, not inferior.