The first three years of my college experience seemed unappealing to most. The glamorous college life projected on big screens and story books was something I longed for, to say the least.
My days usually started at 6 a.m. From there I’d get ready in uncomfortable slacks and button ups to run back and forth between campus and my office job. One semester I worked a second job, and my home became a hotel where I’d shower and sleep. Most of my meals were eaten on my drives between each location.
The envy for the fortunate kids who haven’t worked a day in their lives runs deep for many college students who must make money to survive. The fear of missing out (FOMO) becomes a very real issue to those watching parties through Instagram stories while working a double.
After several years of being too busy to get involved in campus life, I became envious of my friends who didn’t work through college.
In my third year, and first semester at the University of Texas at El Paso (UTEP), my dearest grandmother passed away suddenly during finals week, and I was sure I was going to lose it.
If I had to give advice about how to navigate your experiences through college, I would say the experiences differ drastically through who you are, where you are and where you come from.
The culture in El Paso ties in so closely with the students at UTEP.
There is a community built between students based on the positives and negatives of attending UTEP, one of the country’s largest Hispanic-Serving Institutions, that also happens to reside right on the southern border.
While juggling the added stressors of school and social life, this may make students feel isolated in their college years, but it is not rare to find a peer who is living in similar circumstances.
Having a great college experience does not have to mean going out to “college nights” every week, joining Greek life or even hanging around campus events. The college experience is about building a community, wherever you find yourself and using it to help each other reach goals (or just having someone to make you laugh a bit when you need it). Not everyone has the luxury to work an unpaid internship or take time off for student events, so finding support in the environments you are mostly in is recommended.
Although the dreaded office job I had my first few years of college made it hard to partake in “normal” university life, I now realize it was normal and has happened to most of my peers. When I lost my grandmother after my first semester at UTEP, my college-aged coworkers were the people who stopped me from falling apart.
Although it’s very easy to take the hustle, classmates and coworkers for granted, they are what make the journey. It’s important to lean on the available resources for support through college.
My advice to someone who feels the FOMO because of financial restraints or other factors is to embrace what UTEP’s campus has to offer more. A club with your interests could be used as stress relief when participating in activities with people who are like you. If you can’t join a club, sitting in the library to do homework or walking around campus, offers a soothing immersion into college life that won’t feel as obligating.
UTEP also offers services such as the Student Health and Wellness Center. This is for students who need accessible care. Another program is the Student Support Service Program where students may apply to that assists them in their education regardless of socioeconomic background.
Working through college may be rigorous and coworkers can be difficult, but finding the silver lining and support in the environment around you will help you get through the FOMO and tough weeks.
Jesie Garcia is a staff reporter and may be reached at [email protected] or on Instagram @empanaditawrites.
