Books in one hand, bottles in the other—the stereotypical image of a well-rounded college student as depicted by the media time and time again. It is the nerd who can occasionally take off her glasses and let her hair down from a ponytail, or the jock who can kick it back with the books and pick up the basketball at a later time. Either way, there is a tremendous pressure to study hard and simultaneously have as much fun as we can during our time in college.
Along the course of one’s student life, many tend to start feeling as if they may not be getting the most out of their college experience, and they may be running out of time to accomplish everything they want before graduation. That numbing feeling of dread and anxiety may begin to creep up, and while those worries about both the present and future continually escalate, the onset of midlife college crisis can either propel you forward in your career or may just throw you off balance.
Reality bites
A mid-college crisis may start to occur during the most hectic—or even mundane—of times. The realization may hit as the minutes wear down to seconds before an important deadline, or when one is zoning out during a long and boring class lecture. For Nikole Chan (IV, BS-IT), her realization came as she experienced her first class failure. “I didn’t know how to react; I lost my motivation to even try to do good the next time around because I thought that it would just end in failure again,” she confides.
On the other hand, Gerard Edwards (IV, BS-IT) had to come to terms with the fact that he himself had unintentionally been the cause for his delay from graduation. After having applied for special classes without fully knowing the process, the damage had already been done. Gerard reveals, “By the time I [found out that] it was too late, the subject was not offered and all of my special class applications were also denied for the next two terms after the incident.” Life in the academe can indeed be a coarse and tumultuous journey as it is a path that veers us toward the biting realities of the outside world.
A memory worth keeping
It is inevitable to sometimes experience a downturn when it comes to academics, but it can also be an opportunity to refocus one’s energies somewhere else while recuperating from these unfortunate shortcomings. Joining student organizations and other co-curricular activities can serve as a breather and strike a balance in the frantic air of college life. “I was active in AIESEC and I’m trying my best to be active in the batch government [as well]. I don’t want to just be a placeholder—I want to contribute and make my presence known,” explains Nikole, while Gerard beams about how the Council of Student Organizations has already quickly become his “second family” within the University.
Despite redeeming herself, Nikole still cannot seem to shake the feeling of having missed out on other opportunities. She explains, “There’s always the opportunity of being on the Dean’s List, but apart from that, I also missed out on being more involved in the organisations in DLSU. I could’ve gone for a higher position but I decided against it.” Nikole goes on to say that she had her reasons for turning down said opportunities, stating, “I prioritized other things like my sanity and my sleep. I chose not to let academics rule my life and gave more importance to my health and well-being.”
Gerard, however, believes that he was able to seize every opportunity that was presented to him. “If [the opportunity is] there, I won’t hesitate. I don’t really care if there is a catch or consequence. I have this mindset of solving the problem [only] when it arrives.” While it may have worked out well for him at first, Gerard also admits that his way of thinking had gotten him into trouble in the past, “I shouldn’t have forgotten my priorities. In the process, I was sidetracked into vices and [I forgot about] my future for a while.”
A promise for a tomorrow
Despite the manic extremes of college life, there is still, of course, a lot more room for enjoyment and letting loose. Maintaining a balance between these two extremes is truly the secret toward a fulfilling college experience, and in the end, it is the memories created inside and outside the classroom that are kept close to our hearts.
Although as students, we all know that grades can sometimes outline our potential in school, Keisha* (IV, BS-PSYC) says that. Even if they are important, they are still not everything. She also adds that it is essential for one to learn how to strike a balance between academics and relationships, emphasizing that time really does pass by fast in college.
College is indeed a whirlwind of different experiences—a mix of both weary ordeals and gratifying encounters. Yet, it is along these lines that a sweet promise for a better tomorrow is embedded and that ultimate breakthrough definitely awaits. Although it may still be a hazy sight right now, that shining moment—which will define who you are—will come.
*Names with asterisks (*) are pseudonyms.
