College is about the experiences and connections you seek out and the knowledge you gain. You can find ways to specialize and differentiate yourself from others, but you have to be an active participant in life instead of waiting for things to happen to you. Thereās a wealth of opportunities available to you, so I would recommend trying everything that you can so you can start to get a feel for what you like to do and what matters to you. Then you can start finding your purpose.
As with the concept of gifted kid burnout, the reality is that everyone has their own individual strengths and aptitudes, but nobody is inherently more special than anyone else. The important thing is getting your foot in the door and showing up!
You may also want to seek out counseling services with your university if you feel you may be experiencing symptoms of depression or even just to have someone to talk to and help you along. Big life transitions like this can be incredibly destabilizing, so itās understandable if youāre feeling lost and disillusioned!
Sorry for the Republican dad rant. go get āem champ šØ š
Sep 25, 2024
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i'm in community college rn, i had a rough time in high school so i figured id do two catchup/gen ed years before finishing up my degree at a 4 year. we all know its college app season/college result season and oh my god guys i keep seeing these high schoolers shooting for 8% acceptance rate universities and not settling for anything less. like i get it, i do. but am i the only one whos seeing an uptick of kids just applying places just to say they got in ? i feel like i ask a lot of these people about what they want to do/what they're passionate about and why they're majoring in what they're majoring in and they just give me a blank stare. can we PLEASE normalize saving money and taking your time ? you have the rest of your life to work and be miserable paying taxes and pulling your weight at a 9-5. there's literally no shame in community, and I'm so sick and tired of people thinking there is. if you don't know what you want to do, you're allowed to take the time to get there. it's honestly worse to settle on a mediocre major that you don't particularly like just to get your degree faster and say you graduated on time. high school really doesn't give you the time to decide these things so once you reach adulthood it's your responsibility to allocate your time towards it. i really want to see more kids soul searching in a meaningful and responsible way. and if you know what you wanna do and you got into your 8% acceptance rate dream school, more power to you. I'm just saying that seeing a case like that is rare these days and people deserve the time to think and absorb their new responsibilities.
Mar 19, 2025
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i donāt think dream jobs exist in the way weāre told because work is draining and is exploitative no matter what but i definitely have as close to a ādream jobā in terms of, most of my job duties are things i really want to and enjoy doing. on the other hand it is a Job and it is a very stressful job (and often iām stressed about my work when iām not even working!) and the workplace isnāt the healthiest, to say the least. i really enjoyed college and my degree program (sociology & gender studies) is totally one some people think is āimpracticalā even though i got great research and writing skills and issue-based knowledge
however the job market rn is AWFUL and i have a lot of friends who have been unable to work in their field or exact job of choice but it really is across most fields (including STEM, except for maybe medical). i know some people who are already onto their second job that is exactly what they went to school for even if their first job wasnāt. i think most people donāt have their ideal-type of job first thing in their career; i have colleagues who had different types of jobs before coming to where i work.
in terms of college i 1000% think itās worth it, if anything for getting to expand your knowledge of the world. but a lot of degrees teach you skills and things that are broadly applicable regardless of the field or at least for more fields than is in the title. unless you are wanting a career that requires highly specific skills (i.e. biochemistry, graphic design etc) i would worry less about what degree you get. this is especially true at liberal arts colleges where you get broader freedom in what you take, so you can explore interests and extra skills in electives i.e. taking python as an english major or a creative writing course as a computer science major. and TBH the world is falling apart so you may as well enjoy the 4 years youād spend in school and try to get a job thatād make you feel somewhat fulfilled
and if you arenāt working your dream job and have the freedom to do so, iād try to do something easier/chiller if you can so that you can relax more and pursue things you want to do in your free time. and of course all this is very privileged, i was lucky to get good scholarships to school and donāt have any dependents; my mom had a very different experience but she always does cool stuff outside of work and childcare.
7h ago
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Even if you study the statistically highest earning major, that doesnāt guarantee you a job. Unless youāre going for something ultra specific, most jobs just want to see that you have the guts to finish a degree, it doesnāt matter so much what it is. If you have a passion, follow it! Itāll make your time in school that much more enjoyable.
I started college majoring in materials sciences and engineering at a big ten school bc math was my best subject but I was miserableeeee. I thought I had to do the hardest degree possible to be successful in life and I come from a long line of engineers. Now, I feel like Iām following some sort of calling studying apparel at a tech school. Even though itās not as promising statistically. Weāre all gonna die someday anyway.
Also!!! I majorly recommend taking a gap year. That year of real life outside of an academic setting can really sheepdog your priorities.
Feb 28, 2025
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My dad teases me about how when I was a little kid, my favorite thing to do when I was on the landline phone with somebodyābe it a relative or one of my best friendsāwas to breathlessly describe the things that were in my bedroom so that they could have a mental picture of everything I loved and chose to surround myself with, and where I sat at that moment in time. Perfectly Imperfect reminds me of that so thanks for always listening and for sharing with me too š
Feb 23, 2025
May 28, 2025
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Iāve been thinking about how much of social media is centered around curating our self-image. When selfies first became popular, they were dismissed as vain and vapidāa critique often rooted in misogynyābut now, the way we craft our online selves feels more like creating monuments.
We try to signal our individuality, hoping to be seen and understood, but ironically, I think this widens the gap between how others perceive us and who we really are. Instead of fostering connection, it can invite projection and misinterpretationāpreconceived notions, prefab labels, and stereotypes. Worse, individuality has become branded and commodified, reducing our identities to products for others to consume.
On most platforms, validation often comes from how well you can curate and present your imageāselfies, aesthetic branding, and lifestyle content tend to dominate. High engagement is tied to visibility, not necessarily depth or substance. But I think spaces like PI.FYI show that thereās another way: where connection is built on shared ideas, tastes, and interests rather than surface-level content. Itās refreshing to be part of a community that values thoughts over optics.
By sharing so few images of myself, Iāve found that it gives others room to focus on my ideas and voice. When I do share an image, it feels intentionalāsomething that contributes to the story I want to tell rather than defining it. Sharing less allows me to express who I am beyond appearance.
For women, especially, sharing less can be a radical act in a world where the default is to objectify ourselves. It resists the pressure to center appearance, focusing instead on what truly matters: our thoughts, voices, and authenticity. Iāve posted a handful of pictures of myself in 2,500 posts because I care more about showing who I am than how I look.
In trying to be seen, are we making it harder for others to truly know us? Itās a question worth considering.
Dec 27, 2024