The dangers of thinking ‘the grass is always greener’
Despite the challenges, I’m glad I transferred to Vanderbilt
As a third year transfer student at Vanderbilt, I do a lot of “the grass is always greener” thinking. Had I stayed at my old school, a small laid-back college in New Hampshire where I commuted to campus from home, I would be graduating in three months with a 3.9+ GPA and two teaching certifications which would allow me to go to the top grad school of my choice or into a rewarding job as a male elementary teacher.
Instead, I’m trundling on at Vanderbilt, anxious about new challenges and trying to find clear goals. At a place where I’m no longer a star student, it’s easy to feel overwhelmed and undeserving.
Vanderbilt is pretty green really
It’s times like spring break that bring out the “grass is always greener” attitude. Traveling around the Southeast, I found myself getting quickly attached to people and new places, and enjoying a less complicated life.
Everything was bright and novel. In Orlando, the grass was literally greener, and during my short stay there, the weather, the mood and the boys all seemed better than back home at Vanderbilt. Intoxicating games of Hotseat and Truth or Dare, and long bus rides listening to melancholy songs also brought out and multiplied my thoughts.
The 48 fellow choir members I bonded with so much over break
Dwelling on life’s “what ifs” and getting stuck in the past is dangerous. What if I’d realized earlier I’m not cut out to be a STEM major and switched to political science earlier? What if I hadn’t gotten the summer job in Boston where I met life-changing people? What if I had stayed at my old school? What if I had applied to Boston University like I thought about doing my sophomore year?
Two of my irreplaceable friends from Boston
It becomes easy to focus on the negatives of your current situation, and the positives of alternative scenarios. Thinking about past decisions can come way easier than thinking about preparing for the future, or thinking objectively about making the most of the present.
The fact is I’m at a top 15 school that will offer me a bright future. The fact is I’m involved in great student organizations, I’ve made dozens of friends in Concert Choir since I joined in January and am the Secretary of the Happiness Club at Vanderbilt.
The fact is I have amazing opportunities ahead of me this summer, and will get to spend time with the friends I made in Boston last year, as well as making many new ones, and when I graduate, my opportunities and potential will be endless.
Happiness Club spreading love for Valentine’s Day
Vanderbilt is my home, no matter the winding path I took to get here, and I belong here. You can’t change the past, but you can learn from it and change your future for the better.