I'm sitting here, writing this article at 1:14 in the morning. I can't sleep. Four hours ago, I broke up with my long-distance boyfriend. Two weeks ago, I wrote an article about how to make a long-distance relationship work in college. Maybe I'm an enormous hypocrite. Maybe I'm only human. The only thing I am certain of at this point is that I have no idea where to go from here.
We all come to a point in our lives when things get tough; nothing seems easy, and every day either becomes a battle or blends into monotony. We may lose someone we love, or our identities; we may be hurt, physically or mentally, or both. Unfortunately, studies have shown that most people get "lost" (as I like to phrase it) somewhere between the ages of 16 and 22. And you know what? It is perfectly okay to not have anything figured out. We don't always have a handle on our lives. In fact, telling a college student to "get their shit together" is like telling Miley Cyrus to keep her tongue in her mouth and return to the Hannah Montana days.
A cure for feeling hopeless, confused, or both, is an environment in which you can find yourself again. College is special, because it allows students to do just that. Every day is full of new people to meet, exciting places to visit, and unique experiences to be had. The opportunities are pretty much endless. College is filled with millions of ways to learn from our mistakes and find ourselves (or at least an idea of who we are going to be), and this is why it is important to acknowledge these opportunities.
It's okay to not have life all figured out; it's normal. This is the conclusion I eventually came to after I was numbed out by music, sitting in my car outside of the airport, while images of my ex-boyfriend's face flashed painfully in my mind. Of course I was filled with regret (I still am), but I also have a feeling that I made the right decision. It is kind of hard to tell at this point. I feel as though I'm stuck in a fog. In which direction should I go?
However, if we never got lost, we would never have the chance to find ourselves. By this, I mean that we are all on a journey regarding our personal evolution into the people we will become. Without tragedy, without making mistakes, how are we ever going to learn and grow? Being uncertain of which road to take next and which connection we're willing to create is what helps us evolve as individuals.
So it is okay to be lost. This message is for that guy who got an "F" on a major test, and that girl who feels she's in the wrong major, but is afraid to switch out, because her parents would be disappointed, and for my friend, who feels like he is not going anywhere with his life. Things like these will pass, and they will get better, perhaps even on their own.
For everyone who is currently lost, it's perfectly alright. Take a break and breathe, because you are not alone.
