ESPOSITO: Individualism, college do not mingle enough
For college students, finals season is synonymous with bloodshot eyes, loss of sleep and immense amounts of caffeine.
The race to find a table in the library is in full swing as groups of friends flock to secure a spot. People attempt to cram an entire semester's worth of studying into one week, as stress and anxiety reach rapid heights. While college is looked at as a time to expand your horizons, to try new things and really grow, there is a lot of stress and struggling along the way.
For those who do not experience college, it is looked at as the true way to find yourself. To immerse yourself in clubs, to meet people from all backgrounds and to take classes that you are truly interested in. That being said, the fact that conformity follows you everywhere, even in the place you are supposed to be at your peak independence, is neglected by many.
In college, individuality is promised, but groupthink overpowers it. Even in a school as large and diverse as Rutgers, people tend to define themselves by the organizations they involve themselves in, the people they surround themselves with and their prospective majors.
Because most people come into college knowing little to no people, instead of paving their own way, they tend to fall into mob mentality as fast as they can as an effort to fit in. Studies show that even when students spend time with people who have similar interests, such as being involved in a club or organization, it is with people who have different morals, causing individuals to bend to the will of groupthink.
We go from taking classes that interest us to classes that we are told are an easy A. We change our majors to things that promise to give us jobs after graduation instead of what really interests us.
A prime example is the use of e-cigarettes, where on college campuses, they are at their worst uses. Students fall prey to the use of nicotine because they are surrounded by it, and in an effort to conform, they purchase their own. Regardless of warnings, due to their environment, students do what everyone else is doing.
While in grade school, there were policies and educational programs geared towards aiding students in battles against peer pressure, but kids are on their own when they head to college. It is assumed they know how to say “no,” and that they pride themselves on self-worth and individuality.
In reality, everyone is at risk to fall under the pressures of college mistakes as an effort to fit in. When you are on your own, that is when you are most vulnerable.
College is a major adjustment for everyone and even the most well-equipped minds are at risk. The only way to aid people from the dangers of peer pressure is to acknowledge them. We must acknowledge that we are not too old for bullying, peer pressure and for wanting to fit in. We must encourage getting comfortable with being uncomfortable. To make college what it is supposed to be.
Every college has organizations, clubs, classes, to inspire people. We must continue the search for what inspires us, instead of what we are comfortable with.
Laura Esposito is in the School of Arts and Sciences sophomore majoring in journalism and political science. Her column, "Unapologetically," typically runs on alternate Tuesdays.
*Columns, cartoons and letters do not necessarily reflect the views of the Targum Publishing Company or its staff.
YOUR VOICE | The Daily Targum welcomes submissions from all readers. Due to space limitations in our print newspaper, letters to the editor must not exceed 500 words. Guest columns and commentaries must be between 700 and 850 words. All authors must include their name, phone number, class year and college affiliation or department to be considered for publication. Please submit via email to [email protected] by 4 p.m. to be considered for the following day’s publication. Columns, cartoons and letters do not necessarily reflect the views of the Targum Publishing Company or its staff.
