The Duality of Student Life

College life is often overwhelmed by opportunity costs and trade offs, where every decision can feel like it could pivot your entire future. In the midst of chaos, learning to find equilibrium is key.

By: Jenny Liu

Photo by Gabrielle Wylie-Chaney

The freedom that university offers sounds great in theory, until you realize no one will be there to stop you from making those questionable and risky decisions. You can go out when you have an exam tomorrow, agree to plans when you desperately need a night alone, and even join five clubs just to fit in. For the first time, these complex choices are entirely yours to battle. The tricky part: learning which ones are actually worth making.

The unfortunate truth is, the greatest parties always happen to fall before or during an exam. Yet 20 tabs of study materials and a half-finished essay lay open on your computer screen. You cannot afford to part with either. Studying should be the obvious choice, except college is also about exploring your newly given freedom. 

Chances are, FOMO (fear of missing out) will be your greatest enemy. If you let it win, you could face the consequence of failing an exam — or worse, the course. If you don’t go, FOMO might derail your mind into constantly thinking about that potential party you are missing out on. 

The solution might be surprisingly simple: earn your night out. For instance, it is important to set specific goals. Perhaps you may only allow yourself to go after completing your practice questions and writing down the first draft of your essay. Then set a boundary for when you will head back to your dorm to avoid being completely drained the next day.

College can even make every hangout invitation feel like a test of your responsibility. Sometimes you just want to go to that late dinner or hang out with friends on a random Tuesday night because these are the moments you came to college for. Meanwhile, your academic agenda screams in the back of your mind, asking you to prioritize schoolwork. 

Sometimes the responsible choice is not automatically the better one, or the one chosen. Maybe you really need a break and to debrief with the friend group. The trick is knowing what needs to get done and giving yourself room between each busy deadline. You don’t have to finish everything before allowing yourself to enjoy time with friends. You just have to make sure one night of fun does not become a week of damage control.

The hard truth is, if you have already decided you are going, no productivity hack is going to keep you in your dorm. Instead of fighting that urge, learn how to be realistic. The duality of your life depends entirely on you; you just have to strike the right balance.