Everyone has their limits.

I feel like it has been a theme since classes are back in session, everyone is putting in their two cents about how to survive classes and be in a research lab at the same time. In a way this will be my two cents, but not in the typical sense, so to speak.

Recently I have learned that there will be someone better and more capable than you in almost everything. Do not take that as degrading or stop reading, by the end of this I am hoping to convince you that being you is ok despite the world around you.

The society we live in today expects so much of its college graduates. It seems that a bachelor’s degree is becoming useless and if you aren’t in extracurriculars, forget about being a good applicant for what feels like everything. What if you feel incapable squeezing in the time for extracurricular activities? That was me in high school. Turning in college applications I quickly lost some hope because I had absolutely no dazzling extracurriculars to make my application stand out among the masses. You know what? I got here anyway. Beautiful UC Santa Barbara, one of the best public universities in the United States. Not being in extracurriculars in high school did not stop me then, and it will not stop me now. Maybe it did not stop you either, or maybe you’re shocked that I made it here without any. Then in this case you would be the person that is more capable than me.

The one main thing to be ahead in at college is units. I also very quickly learned that I would take 12 units every quarter if I could. The most units I have taken in one quarter was 16, sadly I know this must change soon. In some justification I have had a job since day one of college and now I am adding a lab on top of that.  I also very well know that most people take 18 units minimum every quarter, so I know many people are better at me in that aspect. I am probably shocking some people saying that the max units I have been in was 16.

On top of that many people are in extracurriculars or balancing other school or career related responsibilities. From my own experience, my roommate asked why I was not taking a general education course next quarter on top of my two lab courses, math, chemistry, and physics courses, to which she added, “It’s really not that difficult.” She is a communications major, and I could bring up the never ending argument that STEM majors tend to think they are better than the humanities, but I think it is a misunderstanding of work load. If I add that GE course on top of my classes I know it would only end badly for my mental state and stress level. In this case, I am picking my mental health over units. I know I need those units, but it will have to wait. Maybe you are that person who took or will be taking the same work load and added on a GE. Great for you, as long as you can handle it.

This brings me to my main point. We were all top of our classes in high school and now we are all fighting for A’s amongst the top of every high school in the nation. Someone will be better than you. Maybe you were the only perfect score in your class, but maybe the next lowest score is someone taking more units than you. Maybe you are overloaded with units, but someone in fewer units is in twice as many extracurriculars as you. Someone will be better. Everyone has their limits. Just because your limits are lower in one aspect does not mean you cannot excel in another.  Be yourself. Do not let people drag you down for going at your own pace. If you are pushing yourself on the verge of a mental breakdown weekly, or even daily, reevaluate something. Is your mental stability really worth an A+ instead of an A-? Is it worth taking those few extra units? Is it worth fitting in with your “friends”? If they were true friends they would understand that mental health comes first. I have come to terms that people will be more capable than me at most things. That’s ok. I’m going at my own pace, my own speed, my own mental capability, following my own limits. I encourage you to do the same. I understand the pressure for careers and graduate school are very tough and push you harder than anything before, but is that extra resume booster really worth warping who you are?