I’m not a fan of Buzzfeed articles — or the mock lists like Buzzfeed. My least favorite one was the list of the “23 Things To Do Instead of Getting Engaged before You’re 23.” However, I was recently enthralled by one that “5 other friends have posted” on Facebook called “14 Things I wish I Knew Before College” by Hannah Flom. While I enjoyed and agreed (mostly) with the list Flom assembled, there is one thing I wish she had included — someone else is probably thinking the same thing. If I were to add a 15th item to the list (I’m not sure why she didn’t since 15 is a more round number, I’m the type of person who has the TV volume on intervals of five at all times), I would add: Even if people don’t express it, they are probably thinking the same thing you are. Is this really that hard of a concept to grasp? People in college seem so put together most of the time. However, behind the perfectly curled hair, the Tie Tuesdays and the big group of friends you eat with everyday — if you are not content, not satisfied or feeling lost — chances are someone else is too. Or vice-versa. If you’re really happy, you love your friends and you’ve finally found your niche, then express that and share it. I was sitting at brunch Sunday with people from each class. The freshman was recounting her current problem separating herself from her Domerfest group of friends. The sophomore was wondering how to tell her friends she will be gone all of next year studying abroad. The junior recounted his hardships in switching friend groups in solidarity and comfort for the freshman and the senior described his plans for obtaining a high paying job after graduation in order to buy the dinning hall “knives that actually cut.” At the end of fall semester my freshman year, a certain professor told me I needed to get my act together and figure out what I wanted to do with my life. But — no! No I didn’t and no I do not have to figure it all out right now. What I do need to do and what we all need to do more often is to express what we are thinking and feeling. Chances are someone else is thinking the same thing and talking through challenges together helps give you perspective. It helps you solve them quicker and perhaps even better than if you tried doing it all on your own.
