The first few days between move-in day and the first day of classes, most colleges have info fairs where dozens of booths litter the campus advocating different clubs, sports, and organizations trying to get people to join.
It’s easy to give into the pressure and join every possible activity you can squeeze into your schedule. You pay thousands of dollars to attend school -- might as well get your money’s worth, right? I adopted that exact mindset and very quickly became overwhelmed with how much I had to do and how little time I had to myself.
The combination of attending classes, doing homework, having a job, having an internship, and being an active member of a club has left me with almost no time to relax this quarter. I spend more time making schedules and writing in my two different planners than I spend actually enjoying being at college. I've had to put my hobbies and interests off and consistently cancel plans with friends so I can get all of my work out of the way, and by the time I’m done with my day, I’m so drained and exhausted that I just crawl into bed and pass out. It’s gotten to the point where I can’t even relax anymore when I do have the time because I always have the gut feeling that I’m forgetting some big responsibility, and I feel guilty for being calm.
Don’t be like me. Don’t do everything you possibly can if you don't think you can handle it. While I’m proud of myself for being active in my community and not having too many major meltdowns along the way, I know I would have been better off if I didn’t try to spread myself too thin. When I got to college, it felt almost mandatory to get involved. There is near-constant pressure to go to every event you can schedule in and join different clubs and sports to make friends. There are people out there that can handle this kind of workload all the time, and good for them! For most people, though, it's very hard to balance a schedule as busy as mine. I know I'm struggling with it.
No one ever really says that it's OK to not be involved. Some people are shy and it will take them a while to make friends and join organizations, and that's fine, too. Some people are only here for an education, and that's fine, too. Some people just don't want to be involved or make friends or do too much, and that's also completely OK.
If I could redo this academic year, I would take my time doing things. It was already enough of a struggle to adjust to leaving home for college, and by overexerting myself, I've only made it even harder to be here.
If there is one thing I learned from that, it's that it's OK to not get involved.
