Nowadays, going to college comes with a lot of really high expectations.
Thanks to media, family stories and movies, we all picture the college experience to be the best years of our lives. The parties, the people, the higher education and the freedom sound like the perfect place to truly become your best self. Right?
Well, it's actually not that simple.
While college is an amazing, liberating and exciting experience, it's not all bright lights and rainbows. The things you learn in college go way past the textbooks. In college, we all experience our own doubts about our own life and that's totally okay. Whether you're living the dream or surviving a nightmare, these are the questions everyone asks themselves while pursuing a college degree.
1. Why am I going to college?
Do I need a college degree? Did my parents need a college degree? Is society just telling me I need a college degree or do people actually want stuff like that before they hire me?
2. Am I in the right major?
I hate this class. Is my life going to be like this class? Do I actually have to care about this stuff in my textbook? Should I change my major to Global Health and save the world? Should I be more logical and just get a business degree? Am I even going to get a job with this major? Do I even want to get a job with this major?
3. Should I transfer schools?
I mean, I like my school, but do I like-like my school? Are there better schools out there? Should I try to get into a different school? Would I make more friends at a different school? Would I be happier at a different school?
4. Am I going out too much?
I pay way too much money for classes to not be studying for them.
5. Am I not going out enough?
I pay way too much money for college to not be having the full experience.
6. Should I go to graduate school?
If a college degree is equivalent to a high school diploma in modern society, then do I have to go to graduate school? Does that mean I am going to need to take out more loans? Does that mean I have to start researching colleges again? If I do go to graduate school, what do I go for? Is there a rule that you can't get the same as your bachelors or do you have to? Are there rules to this or something?
7. Do I get an internship during college or after college?
Apparently internships are 'door openers' but does that mean I have to do all this work and not get paid? How long to I have to be in the unpaid job life? When will I be able to afford food again?
8. Should I just be a YouTuber?
I'm funny, cute and enjoy companies sending me free things.
9. Does nobody like me?
Eating meals alone can really put a damper to the self confidence.
10. Is it weird that I'm not married yet?
Because everyone else is getting married. Literally, everyone.
11. Should I join clubs so my resume looks better?
I don't really want to but my resume is very, very, blank.
12. What am I doing with my life?
Seriously, what am I doing?
As these questions haunt you in your sleep every night, just remember that you're on a good track. You don't have to have everything figured out right away but faith in yourself and belief that everything will be okay will get you through it all.