turn idols into rivals

Dedication: first we build habits

Then they build us.

It’s easy to burn out. College is wonderful because of how many incredible opportunities you get, but that can also make it incredibly tough. It’s so easy to get burnt out because you want to say yes to all of these experiences and organizations, but it’s important to learn your limits. It’s important to set time for yourself. I’ve found that the best way I’ve escaped burning out is scheduling one fun thing a week. Making sure to schedule time for myself has been a GAME CHANGER. Whether that fun thing is staying in bed watching netflix, going out to eat, or finding a new thing to do in the city. When you look back at your time in college, it won’t be how little sleep you got or how long your email signature is that you’ll remember. It will be the memories you made and the personal growth you experienced that truly matters. So embrace those. Put those things first and it will make burn out SO MUCH EASIER TO DEAL WITH.

College is full of seasons. There will be seasons of business in terms of your schedule, but there will also be seasons of personal/mental business. For me, spring semesters are always THE WORST personally. I just always have drama happen. I end up questioning everything, doubting where I am or what I’m doing. But that’s NORMAL. It took me a while to realize that it’s irrational for me to expect things to be pulled together all the time (or at all tbh). I used to think that it meant I wasn’t at the right school or in the right internship or friends with the right people, but it was me pushing and working through those feelings that made me feel so much more secure in my place and in my relationships. And sometimes we don’t get that instant gratification of seeing the product of those seasons of hard growth. Sometimes it takes months or even years before you see it or feel it, but it’s normal and it will be worth it when you finally realize that you are different. 

There are also seasons for friends. I came into college with the expectation that I was going to make friends for life immediately, and that has happened, but it took time. I got so frustrated when, after my first year, my friendships weren’t as close as they were at home and I wasn’t as rooted in the community. Then I got frustrated when some of my initial friendships or positions didn’t last. But eventually I realized that it took me over six years for me to build my life at home. It took me so long to build that community at home, so it’s okay for it to not happen overnight at school. And to take that a step further, you aren’t wasting your time with people if you end up not being friends with them long-term. It’s okay to switch friend groups because sometimes people aren’t put in our lives for the long-term. Sometimes it’s just for a season, it’s just so you can learn something from them and that experience. And vice versa. It’s hard, but try to relax into that and see who you end up connecting with. You might be surprised what sort of friendships come out of that.