Community College FOMO?

The biggest plague to hit community college has to be the fear of missing out...

As everyone is jetting off towards their college journeys, setting up dorms, finding their footing on campus, community college students often get hit by the wrath of FOMO. Trust me, I'd know.

Directly out of high school, I attended a 4-year university. Then...a stuff happened (read my About Me, it'll be quicker) and I ended up at community college. Actually KNOWING what the "classic college experience" feels like before entering community college offered me two things:

1. The relief that at least I experienced a little bit of that "classic freshman year"

2. The reassurance that I can survive just fine without the dorms and the frats

Here's the thing...I had a great time at my 4-year! I truly put my best foot forward and had lots of fun. At the same time, my decision to attend community college was the wise one (I know that now) and I don't regret a thing. But, when faced with the limiting social life of a small commuter campus and the promise of transferring, community college often pales in comparison when put up against the "classic college experience."

However, community college is what you make of it! Hear me out. I can offer you two remedies for your FOMO. You can either keep your head down, eyes on the prize, and just push through OR you can dive in head first, embrace campus culture, and make the most of these two years. I vote number two, every single time.

Sure, keep your head down and you'll make it through to the part your excited about. I almost adopted this strategy until I realized I'd likely end my four years of university wishing I didn't waste half of them waiting for the other half to come. This is YOUR college experience, don't waste it! If anything, I implore you to at least try. Join one club, ask one classmate for their Instagram, take one class just because it sounds fun. I guarantee you, it's going to be a lot harder to keep your head down and wish your time away if you spend said time doing something you actually enjoy.

Now, I don't want to hear, "my campus is soooo dead!" because my campus literally has a 2.9 rating for its social scene on Rate My Professor and I STILL found organizations I love on campus. There's something for everyone, and if there isn't, start it yourself. I bet you're not the only one at your college who loves sitcoms, Dungeons & Dragons, astrology, K-dance, etc. It's a somewhat unfortunate fact of life that having a good time typically requires some effort on your behalf. But, there's only one way for that to get less scary and it is to just start---and I say start now! :)

Lilly Hazard

Hazard on Campus

@lilly_hazard