After an eight-week-long winter break, like probably many of my peers, I spent January 11th filled with a creeping dread as I ruminated on the next day, the first day of the spring semester. I doom scrolled through TikTok in hopes of alleviating this overwhelming feeling and was met with a video on my feed from another college student heading back to school, explaining that their key tip to getting through college is romanticizing it, and playing into this sense of whimsy to keep themselves going.
According to the Merriam-Webster dictionary, to romanticize something means “to make romantic: treat as idealized or heroic.” It is taking things (more often than not, mundane things) and transforming them into something more, in hopes of gaining a greater sense of joy when experiencing them.
After watching this TikTok, I realized that ideology was something I was aware of and had tried to pursue; however, as most students know, as a semester drags on, we can retreat more and more into a survival mode of just trying to make it through our classes and activities. Though I did end up surviving each semester, I knew that this mentality was draining out the enjoyment of my college experience.
So, in hopes of changing that this spring, I was struck with a question- How can I romanticize this upcoming semester? Like most anyone with a question, I decided to go searching for my answer, and that led me to two people- The on-campus counselor, Demetria Robinson, and a dear friend of mine and fellow Langston student, Cayci Gaines, who is a sophomore public health major.
After both of these conversations, I was left feeling more enlightened on the idea of upping my wellness this spring, and felt there was a moment in each of them that was worth sharing (obviously, since you are reading this).
Let’s start with Ms.Robinson.
I wanted to get a mental health professional’s opinion on what we, as students, could do to improve our well-being, so I went to the person who knows firsthand what Langston students are feeling and experiencing day to day, and this is what I found.
For one, Ms. Robinson’s office is probably one of the coziest places on campus, so if you ever have time, you should stop by University Women’s 110 or 111. Secondly, she helped me understand that the answer to our well-being comes from within.
Now, to some, that may be quite an obvious notion, but I believe that, as college students, we sometimes get caught up in the externality of it all, or at least I know I do. My friends are doing this, my professors are assigning that, my family is going through this, etc. A lot of things simply feel outside our control, but Ms. Robinson made me realize that, while that may be true, we don’t have to let it define us.
“Remember your why… I can’t help but think about my students who come from a hard place, you know, just how hard it was for you to even get to this point, and even our students who don’t come from a hard place, you still have dreams and visions for your life, and so even though things can be going on that really, really frustrate you, it’s like never lose sight of your why, right? You know, because your purpose is waiting on you.”
I mean, c’mon, who wouldn’t feel inspired after hearing that?
Similarly to Ms. Robinson, when I spoke with Cayci, she also brought up the idea of “remembering your why” and walking in gratitude (what a cool coincidence, right?).
I knew that, as important as it was to have a professional opinion, it was equally as significant to seek advice from another student who is experiencing Langston just as I am. This led me to Gaines, who is also an Edwin P. McCabe honors student. She expressed that walking with gratitude grounds her as a student.
“Not everyone gets to graduate debt-free. Not everyone is on a full ride, and even if you’re not, I think just the opportunity to have, like, an education, I mean, like, I’ve been talking about this in my global health class, like, not everyone has the opportunity, especially women, to…pursue higher education and stuff like that. So, just, I guess, being appreciative, like, even as hard as it is, and, you know, you don’t want to take a test or something, like, it’s really a privilege to take a test.”
As I write this in a coffee shop in Guthrie, again in pursuit of this idealized version of college, I realize that both these women truly highlighted how critical appreciation is, and I am now beginning to think that it is the first step in this process of romanticization.
Take the time to appreciate your dorm room and all its decor that you picked out, or your professors for taking the time to educate you (even if they assigned beaucoup amounts of homework in the first two weeks), or appreciate yourself for making it through another day of higher education.
When you can appreciate something, you can allow yourself to love it enough to make it more than it may seem.
So, yes, it’s cold right now, and yes, Homecoming isn’t coming up, but there are so many things to fall in love with this spring, and if we remember to find them every day, we may be able to exit survival mode. Now, as beautiful as that sounds, I know that’s not an easy task when under the high demands of college, but it’s a challenge I am willing to take this semester, and I hope whoever reads this takes it on as well.
I’ve started making this effort by carving out time each day to set aside for myself, for me to doom-scroll, create, read, or whatever else I want to do because it’s my time.
In addition, I have been challenging myself to try new things, whether that means going to a new study spot or doing something in my major that scares me. Facing those feelings head-on has taught me what I am capable of and has pushed me to grow.
Lastly, on the note of wellness, if you don’t have a journal, I highly recommend investing in one. Not only does this outlet allow you to express yourself, but it also helps you use your imagination, granting you permission to play into the whimsy I mentioned at the beginning of this article.
These are all things that have made my life feel a little more special, and I hope maybe it does the same for you, and if not, that you find something that causes you to (as Charli XCX would say) “fall in love again and again” each day.
Layla Nickerson
Features Editor and Staff Reporter
Layla Nickerson is a sophomore broadcast journalism major with a minor in marketing. Her “why” as a student reporter is to be a storyteller of culture and community, in hopes of featuring all the aspects that LU has to offer, whether they are niche or grand. She believes that the work of The Gazette grants power to the students of Dear Langston by giving them a voice, and because of this, she knew it had to be something she was a part of. Outside of her journalistic tendencies, Layla loves immersing herself in other forms of media like music, film, TV, and occasionally reading. For any inquiries, she can be reached at layla.c.nickerson@langston.edu in Outlook as well as @layla_nickerson on Instagram.
