Written by Jason Shin
Having a good gpa, having a good physique, having that perfect Instagram post, are all societal norms that affect the daily student. Oftentimes, we look at a person, who we perceive as having those qualities and we associate them with happiness and fulfillment. More specifically, when we see someone looking good in an Instagram post, getting a good grade on the test, we subconsciously compare ourselves with their current situation, and impose a false belief of happiness and expectation on that person. And by recognizing that you are not in the position that the person is, you come to the unjustified conclusion that you are unhappy. But are these societal values that everybody seems to carry really that defining of our happiness? Where did these norms and beliefs come from? How can I actually seek happiness?
Societal norms have always existed since the development of society many many years ago. Especially with the introduction to money, and a capitalistic society, society has undergone a process in which there is an overreliance with objective numerical features of our lives in the world. This can be money, this can be the mansion or the car that everybody wants, or even the two worded “Harvard University” mark on your resume. Moreover, what is even more shocking is that especially with the rise of social media, people have begun to branch out and value features regarding their own body, putting themselves under a standard created by social media trends, photo edits, and clickbait.
Especially to students, or generally younger audiences who have not had the opportunity to live for a long time and explore what the world has to offer, their lives can seem to be defined by their school and their academic upbringings. Ask a student to imagine a life without school and grades, and there will be difficulty in doing so. Therefore when actively trying to escape a life under just grades and school, which as characterized before are ruled by objective numerical values, it is imperative to understand the complexities of life and the infinities it has to offer. The only way to actively achieve that is through venturing out of the comfort zone and finding new hobbies and interests. In this day and age of “you must get into a good university or you’re a failure”, it is crucial for students to develop connections with their life aside from grades and school.
The next is realization. Realize the vastness of life. With your new hobbies and interests that you have never imagined of having, realize that there are more things to offer in your life, than the circumstances already presented to you. The average lifespan is about 80 years, and the one test that you might be stressing over or the one class, is less than a fraction of a fraction of the experiences you will feel in that lifetime. Understand that college is just four years, and that beauty is subjective and that everybody eventually will grow old but it’s the principle that when we are at the very end of life and we look around and see what we have remaining, that is what actually matters to us, and in no situation, would that ever include grades or what school you have went to. So have fun, and life a fulfilling life that you will be proud of in your death.
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