Are you being the real you? Today, many students find that they are following the dreams of others instead of being true to themselves. Some give in to peer pressure. Others follow the dreams of their parents, rather than follow their own hopes and dreams.
Few people can be happy when they are not being true to themselves. And so it follows, when you are not true to yourself, you are true to no one else. Therefore, to be happy and reach your full potential, you must dream your own dreams, be who you really are, go where you want to go and do the things that will take you to your own goals.
This above all:
To Thine Own Self Be True,
and it must follow, as the night the day,
thou canst not then be false to any man.
– William Shakespeare
All of that does not mean that you should be irresponsible or reckless. It simply means that you have the opportunity to discover your capabilities, strengths and direction, while you are in college. Discovery takes place when you decide to get involved with the activities that are available to you. You can:
- Take interesting electives
- Join clubs
- Participate in campus activities
- Find work in an area of interest
- Volunteer in the local community
- Try a new leisure activity
- Listen to the opinions of others
- Take on a new responsibility
- Fight for a cause
Discovery usually requires that you get out of your comfort zone. You may want to:
- View a very old silent film
- Attend a free lecture
- Read Shakespeare
- Tell someone that you admire their work
- Sit with a different table of people for lunch
- Volunteer for a small part in a play
- Write a letter to someone you love
- Take a public speaking class
- Attend a religious service with a friend of a different religion
- Prepare or serve meals at a place of your choice
- Work on a farm for a few days
- Hike across your county and back with a couple of friends
- Sleep on the beach overnight with your friends
- Look up at the stars for several hours
- Go fishing
- Help paint a house
- Go behind the scenes at a circus, zoo, aquarium or theme park
- Thank a Service Member
- Visit an impoverished neighborhood or town
- Donate blood
- Serve as an extra in a movie or stage production
When you get involved with these activities, you will have a chance to:
- Identify your values
- Discover your beliefs
- Develop a new skill
- Discover your own needs and wants
- Experience new feelings
- Find happiness
- Build self-confidence
- Find your voice
- Uncover other opportunities
- Meet new people
- Learn something new
- Discover your passion
College is where you can cast off your illusions and discover many truths about yourself. It is important for you to know who you are today, so you can become the person you are meant to be tomorrow. When you do not understand who you are, where you are and where you should be going, it is difficult to find happiness and success.
Bob Roth
The “College & Career Success” Coach
