As we’re all beginning to settle into the semester, a wave of what is known as the “freshman flu” has hit a lot of us, myself included. It’s a rite of passage into college living, and I know I wasn’t surprised when it hit me. However, I was surprised to find that I hadn’t just caught the simple freshman flu — I was coming down with something a lot worse. By Sunday, I knew what it was. I’ve officially caught a bad case of FOMO. I realized that even with all of the socializing and going out I had done over orientation week, I still don’t feel like I’m doing enough. Even though I am a Chemical Biology major, I’m no doctor. While I can’t diagnose anyone with it, I’m starting to suspect it’s not just me who’s caught it.
This doesn’t have to be a bad thing, though. In fact, that’s exactly why I’ve chosen to write about this topic this week. If you’ve fallen victim to my previous rambling columns, you’ll know that Girl(ish) Talk wasn’t the first paper I wrote. It was actually a paper called “Finding your people.” Flash forward a few weeks, and it’s ironic how much easier that’s said than done. All the suggestions I had written about—joining clubs, finding people with shared interests—can be a lot harder and feel more daunting than I’m sure any of us would expect. But don’t worry, not everything has to be applying for leadership positions and making 10 friends a day. Try going to a club that’s strictly for your enjoyment. Focus on fostering real connections with people and enjoying yourself, whether you’re out with a group of 12 or you’re spending the night by yourself. Do the things that seem random, even if you’re not really interested or don’t have anyone to go with.
Also, it’s easy to see how people feel behind even when they are growing. I can’t count on two hands how many times I’ve seen a friend run for a position on some e-board and thought, “What am I doing?” It is easy to feel like you aren’t achieving enough and aren’t achieving the perfect college dream. However, the truth is that the “perfect” college experience doesn’t exist. It can look different for everyone! Maybe your perfect experience is sticking to homework and research, or maybe it’s being a member in every organization at Stevens. Either way, what you do with your time is not less or more valuable just because it doesn’t fit the stereotypical “day in my life” for a college student. Focusing on taking care of yourself and managing all the aspects of college life you find important is what really matters.
I’ll admit that this column might be a little different from the others, in the sense that I really have advice to give. I don’t have any tips and tricks, I don’t have more cute clothes to recommend, because the truth is that I’m stuck in the same spot that everyone is in. This article is a reminder to everyone who seems to have caught a case of FOMO: to relax. Recognize that we’re only four weeks into the semester, and we have plenty of time to create that perfect college experience. So, the next time the symptoms of FOMO kick in, take a deep breath and time for yourself.
