our society
I know it's very cliche to talk about society, how it pressures us to do certain things or act certain ways or even to think certain thoughts (thus the beginning of this sentence), but it's something that we can't get out of because it's been ingrained into our minds, surrounding us during all our lives. And sure, people usually view this to be a bad thing, to succumb to the wills of the majority, but it's not necessarily harmful. In fact, it can even help us go out of our comfort zones and learn new things. But just the same, it can discourage us from doing what we truly want or what we're actually good at doing.
Confused? Let me put it in more concrete terms. I'm writing specifically from my own experience and how I feel incompetent when I compare myself to my friends. Most of my friends are very involved in what they do - and what they do is school. This means my friends are good friends with their professors, are in academic clubs or societies, or are in some form of council for some kind of organization. When asked how they're doing in school, they can honestly say that they're busy people and they're doing what they love. If prompted further, they can describe their jobs, their leadership roles in whatever clubs they're in, their internships with their favorite professors.
That's not to say that I'm not as successful... except I'm not (at least on paper). What can I say? I've been just as busy, but it's in my personal life and in sports. I'm smart and I like excelling in classes, but I'm either too shy or too lazy to be bothered to go further in my academic life. When my high school friends and I meet up and share what we've been doing since then, everyone always has so much to tell. "I've been studying abroad and someday want to move to Europe." "I'm the president of this club and organize events to meet with professors." "My professor offered me an internship in the summer to work in his lab." That's all great for them, but I can't compete with these kinds of statements. Maybe I'm jealous or perhaps I'm just insecure about myself, but I think that if we're surrounded by this kind of atmosphere, then people will remain in the same sphere. We're all doing well, but we're all the same.
I've expressed these concerns to my sisters before. I've admitted that I'm worried, that I don't think I have been doing anything since college (or even before) and that I don't know if I'll amount to anything once I graduate. But when I reflect, I know I'm just worrying myself. I am doing well in school and exploring courses, and I'm having fun with what I'm learning. I got a double gold in my first year at Collegiates Taekwondo, and then in my sophomore year I was team captain of the taekwondo team. And this year I made it into the national team with my sisters and competed in sports poomsae at Worlds. How can I say I haven't been doing anything? Sure, I don't have much experience in academic clubs, but doesn't representing the US at a world competition count for anything?
In the end, I just have to remember that I am not like my friends. And in doing what I am good at and love, I guess my friends and I are more alike than I had realized.
Confused? Let me put it in more concrete terms. I'm writing specifically from my own experience and how I feel incompetent when I compare myself to my friends. Most of my friends are very involved in what they do - and what they do is school. This means my friends are good friends with their professors, are in academic clubs or societies, or are in some form of council for some kind of organization. When asked how they're doing in school, they can honestly say that they're busy people and they're doing what they love. If prompted further, they can describe their jobs, their leadership roles in whatever clubs they're in, their internships with their favorite professors.
That's not to say that I'm not as successful... except I'm not (at least on paper). What can I say? I've been just as busy, but it's in my personal life and in sports. I'm smart and I like excelling in classes, but I'm either too shy or too lazy to be bothered to go further in my academic life. When my high school friends and I meet up and share what we've been doing since then, everyone always has so much to tell. "I've been studying abroad and someday want to move to Europe." "I'm the president of this club and organize events to meet with professors." "My professor offered me an internship in the summer to work in his lab." That's all great for them, but I can't compete with these kinds of statements. Maybe I'm jealous or perhaps I'm just insecure about myself, but I think that if we're surrounded by this kind of atmosphere, then people will remain in the same sphere. We're all doing well, but we're all the same.
I've expressed these concerns to my sisters before. I've admitted that I'm worried, that I don't think I have been doing anything since college (or even before) and that I don't know if I'll amount to anything once I graduate. But when I reflect, I know I'm just worrying myself. I am doing well in school and exploring courses, and I'm having fun with what I'm learning. I got a double gold in my first year at Collegiates Taekwondo, and then in my sophomore year I was team captain of the taekwondo team. And this year I made it into the national team with my sisters and competed in sports poomsae at Worlds. How can I say I haven't been doing anything? Sure, I don't have much experience in academic clubs, but doesn't representing the US at a world competition count for anything?
In the end, I just have to remember that I am not like my friends. And in doing what I am good at and love, I guess my friends and I are more alike than I had realized.