School life felt simple. Everything was sorted. We didn’t have to worry about “what next?”. We just moved from one class to another, studying what the teacher taught, following a path already designed for us.
But the moment college enters the picture and even before it actually begins, everything changes. Suddenly, everyone has advice. Do this course, choose that degree, this college is better… The noise becomes overwhelming, and somewhere in between all those voices, our own gets lost.
The confusion doesn’t just revolve around studies or careers. It’s much deeper. It’s about understanding ourselves, adjusting to new people, adapting to unfamiliar environments, and dealing with unexpected changes in old relationships. All at once, we are expected to manage everything—and somehow, that is called “becoming an adult.”
And we are tired before we even begin.
This journey basically starts after boards. Which exam should I prepare for now? Which course should I choose? Which college will I get? Will this decision define my entire future?
Even after getting into college, clarity doesn’t arrive. It gets replaced by bigger doubts. No matter what course we choose, we find ourselves questioning it. Today’s world has opened countless doors, but with that comes even greater confusion.
Before classes even begin, society expects us to have a clear career path. And being a commerce student, “learned” people often advise me to opt for professional courses like CA, CMA, etc. The moment I choose one, another experienced person says, “Explore more.” We try and end up discovering ten more options instead of finding one answer.
Then comes the thought: let’s just step out of the race of traditional courses and focus on building skills.
But which skills? The internet offers thousands. Which one is actually meant for me?
And just when you think you’re figuring things out, another expectation appears: “Get a government job and life is set.”
So now, is that the goal too?
While searching for answers, you see a friend doing well in content creation. It looks like a shortcut to success. Should I try that as well? Then comes the thought of internships. But once again, you’re back where you started, questioning what you’re truly good at, and what you left unfinished along the way.
In the middle of all this, you’re also expected to keep everyone happy. To show up, to smile, to not fall apart. Sometimes, we fail to meet our parents’ expectations. Sometimes, our frustration finds its way into the wrong moments. Slowly, we realize that college is not just teaching us subjects, it is teaching us balance.
When to say yes.
When to say no.
Who truly matters.
Who is only temporary.
And maybe that’s why –
We are tired before we even begin.
Not because we are weak but because we are trying to carry answers to questions we haven’t even lived yet.
But not everything about this phase is negative.Â
It’s okay to move forward without having everything figured out. Somewhere between the confusion and the pressure, there are moments that make it all meaningful. Silent realizations that change the way we see ourselves. Small steps towards self-trust.
Maybe college is not meant to give us all the answers but to live with the questions and still move forward. Maybe the wrong choices, the delays and the doubts will all connect in ways we cannot see right now. And maybe that’s the beauty of this phase.