If you are a perfectionist, you are not alone. Perfectionism has been something that I have struggled with throughout my life. Since I was young, I wanted to be the best at everything I did. Whether it was sports or school, I wanted to succeed. I wanted to prove to myself and others that I could do everything all at once. This led to setting unrealistically high standards for myself in all aspects of my life. I soon realized that perfectionism is unattainable and that struggling to be perfect at everything does more harm than good.
When I entered college as a freshman, I was still struggling with perfectionism. I felt obligated to involve myself in every club and activity I could find, while still maintaining a 4.0 GPA. I thought I had to have my entire future planned out from the moment I stepped foot on a college campus. This struggle to do everything all at once left me feeling defeated and stressed. It consumed all of my time and I soon ended up with no time available to do the things I actually enjoyed.
I quickly learned that you cannot possibly find balance in life when you are trying to do everything at once.
It took me until the second semester of freshman year to truly push past my desire for perfectionism. I learned that it's okay to not be great at everything. It's also okay to struggle in some subjects and not receive A's on every test. Everyone is human and we all make mistakes. In college, you'll find that you often learn the most from the times that didn't go as planned than from the ones that went perfectly.
Now, as a sophomore, I understand that you can do anything in college, but not everything. I realized that I do not have to be perfect to make the most of my college experience. I learned that there is no such thing as a "perfect" student. We all face challenges. Sometimes we forget assignments and don't receive the best grades on tests. Life happens. Instead of focusing on my shortcomings, I learned to appreciate the lessons that come from these failures. I also learned that I didn't need to involve myself in absolutely everything. It's much more beneficial to dedicate your time to the things you truly love. If this means you involve yourself in two clubs, that is perfectly fine. By involving yourself in the activities you really enjoy, you will make a greater impact.
My best advice for perfectionists is to hold yourself to a standard of grace, not perfectionism. Try your best at everything, but if your best is not "perfect," don't stress. You also must remember to not compare yourself to others. There are people in college who seem to do it all. But, trust me, they face the same challenges that you do. Focus on doing the things that make you happy, and don't focus on what other people tell you to do. Most importantly, make sure to make time for yourself, especially when you are feeling overwhelmed.
