Create Your Own College Experience

By Isabella Tricarico

I have always been told that college would be the best four years of my life. You hear about how much fun you will have with your friends and that there will never be a time like this again. Though people who say this are well-intentioned, it also places an immense amount of pressure on your time at college. 

My own social anxiety coupled with the immense pressure placed upon me made me so overwhelmed by the social aspects of college. I felt anxious in large groups and began to feel like an outcast for not wanting to attend an event. I kept repeating the mantra that college would be the best four years of my life and that I should be grateful for this time, but I felt so overwhelmed by social events. 

Through therapy and working on what made me anxious about social settings I was able to overcome my social anxiety. I learned that self-care is most important. I developed a new mindset that allowed me to feel okay with my social schedule, and I was able to understand that defining my own means of fulfillment based on others was not healthy. I began to take weekends to myself when I felt too overwhelmed instead of going out. Giving myself the necessary space from social events allowed me to learn a lot about myself. Thus, I started mapping out my days and ensuring I had an hour to prioritize myself. I would even take a weekend at home when I became too overwhelmed. Stepping back from college for a bit, whether it be a weekend in, or a trip home is so beneficial. The reset is good for you and will prevent you from burnout. Spending a self care night, or seeing your family, friends and pets will reset your mind.

To implement space for yourself in your daily routine, it is easiest to start small. Carving time out at night between doing homework to do my skincare and shower routine is a small step in making me feel my best. Self care doesn't have to be sheet masks and bubble baths; it can be a nice shower and applying moisturizer. I also like to allot time before bed to read and journal. Calming my mind always helped me put into perspective my worries. Sitting alone with your thoughts and writing them down will help you develop a healthier relationship with yourself and rationalize your thoughts. 

I am thankful that I developed this new mindset. Through prioritizing my mental health I feel much more confident when I go out. College is so different than anything I have ever experienced, and I felt wrong for “wasting” the best years of my life, but it is so normal to feel that way. Your experience is supposed to be unique to you, and once you develop the mindset of being comfortable and confident within yourself, it will make the experience all the better.