@here Welcome back to school y'all! ๐
If you're reading this, you're probably an ambitious student vying for the best grades, participating in many extracurriculars, and trying to optimize for your future.
Ambition is great, but it shouldn't come at the expense of your wellbeing. Here are a few reminders:
๐ You Are Good Enough
In the era of social media, comparison is inevitable. Trust me, Iโve spent my fair share of time on college admissions forums comparing myself to other students, obsessing over whether my stats or my extracurriculars are "good enough."
But instead of comparing yourself to others, you should compare yourself to yourself. The formula is simple:
- Cast ambitious goals
- Build consistent habits that yield compounding results
- Try to become 1% better each day
This is a wholly internal journey. As long as you can find in you the determination to continually improve, it doesnโt matter what others doโyou *are *good enough.
๐ Forgive Yourself
Be lenient with yourself when needed. There will be days when you miss a study session, workout, or club meeting. The reason doesn't matterโeven "trivial" breaks like dinner with friends are fine.
Being an overachiever doesn't mean grinding 24/7. Small, spontaneous breaks shouldn't be a source of guilt. Just don't let leniency turn into lethargy.
๐ก It'll All Work Out
This was my mantra during college. After every rough exam, I reminded myself that everything works out in the end.
In the grand scheme of things, a single bad test score or embarrassing mistake is trivial. The path you end up on may be unexpected, but it's often exactly where you need to be.
How are you planning to take care of yourself this school year? Let me know! ๐