Q: What is the meaning of life?

Claire:

Wow, what a complicated question! While I’m certainly no expert on philosophy, I’m happy to give my input. I think that at this point in the semester, people start asking themselves this question more often because they start to wonder if all this work is actually worth it or if we’re just wasting our time. The good news is that if you don’t find meaning in your schoolwork, that’s okay. College only takes a few years, you have your whole life to discover what career and life you want to have. 

If you do find meaning in college life and are filled with existential dread over the thought of post-graduation life, I promise that your existence won’t be over once you enter the real world. I personally believe that there is no one meaning to life but rather many sources of meaning that change as you do. Right now you might find meaning in running a club and in 20 years you might find meaning in renovating your house. If you feel like you can’t find meaning in your life, you might just need to get involved with more, think of things that you’ve enjoyed in the past, and try to do similar things. It also can help if the things that you do leave an impact or are building towards something. However, if you are feeling like there is no meaning to life, it could also help to reach out to the Stevens Counseling and Psychological Services, who recently opened an online registration system, so you don’t have to call to book an appointment anymore. 

Ethan:

As someone who took a philosophy class once at a community college, I am equipped to answer this question for you. Life can be whatever you want it to be. Life is heartbreak on the Buchard bathroom floor, taking a shower in the Gateway South basement, and waking up with only some recollection of the night before. If you are too dense to understand what I am saying, the meaning of life does not lie within the confines of your academics. There are things in life far more important than your grades in your college classes. As finals approach, I can assume some of you will be panicking and anxious about what is to come with exams and final grades, but I am here to tell you that it does not matter. I know a lot of people that never went to school and managed to have fun with their lives and survive by other means. 

If you are struggling to find purpose in life I would recommend doing what you love and prioritizing having fun once in a while. Life is miserable when you spend time locked away only focusing on the future, sometimes it is important to live in the moment and make stupid decisions. If you are in college and spending your time being upset and miserable when it could be spent having fun and making memories, the choice seems pretty clear to me. A wise man once said, “Life is a highway and I want to ride it all night long.” These words changed my life and maybe they’ll change yours too, good luck.