Wacky lecturers, crazy group projects and the ever-so energy consuming extracurriculars. It was a memorable three years, but a far cry from being a smooth-sailing one.
I had my fair share of stumbling blocks that left me emotionally and mentally fatigued. It was during these rocky times where I picked up new perspectives on life. And here’s what I realized.
Feeling Lost is a Recurring Trend
When I entered as a freshman, the game plan was simple - figure my life out by the time I graduated. Three years later, the plan was thrown out the window.
I’d find passion in something, and believe it was my calling in life. After pursuing it for some time, I’d realize that it just wasn’t for me. Then it’s back to the drawing board and the cycle repeats.
Annoying as it was, it eventually made sense. Each experience changed my perspectives and priorities. As such, I could never truly settle on a permanent route because I, too, was changing. And that’s when I learnt to accept that I was going to “feel lost” for quite some time.
No One Has It All Together
By my second year, I turned into a mess. Submitted assignments late, dozed off in class and poorly managed all other commitments. I had no idea what was going on except that I was all over the place.
Seeing others have their sh*t together left me a little discouraged and ashamed of my situation. It was only after speaking to them did I realize I was not only wrong, but also arrogant in thinking I was the only one struggling.
Behind closed doors, everyone has their own set of struggles. There was no need to compare and feel incompetent. Everyone’s just going at their own pace, with their own baggage to carry. And I should too.
Picking My Battles
In hindsight, the reason I ended up a mess was because I was trying to do everything and anything.
The prospect of doing something new gets me excited. I’d immediately say yes and commit. But the thing is, there’s always something new to do. You can imagine how much I ended up putting on my plate. Naturally, the plate cracked and I under-delivered.
It took me awhile to accept that my energy was limited. I may have my commitments scheduled perfectly, but it didn’t matter if I didn't have the energy to deliver. In a world abundant with choices, I learnt firsthand the importance of picking my battles. It’s counterintuitive, but to accomplish more, I have to take up less.
Wrapping Up
As I transition into the adulting life, I've come to appreciate these lessons more. Being realistic with personal expectations and commitments really goes a long way in preventing myself from burning out too fast. Given, I'm still experiencing my share of struggles but I'm managing much better thanks to these changes.
And that's a wrap for this post. If you've recently hit a slump, chin up because you're not alone. Give yourself some time. You'll be out of the rut eventually. Till then, stay strong!
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Elijah is a Psychology Studies graduate from Ngee Ann Polytechnic. When bored or stressed, he escapes into the YouTube realm and indulges in content by BuzzFeed, Domics and Wong Fu Productions.
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