The Truth is…

It it no secret that life naturally makes us go through uncomfortable situations. However, college has a way of bringing out the most embarrassing situations forward, things we have never experienced before. For example, it wasn’t until I got to college that I became neighbors with things like sex and drugs. Last year as a freshman, my sleep was interrupted by an intoxicated girl in a thong climbing into what she thought was her friend’s bed. To say that I was embarrassed and frightened was only the tip of the iceberg emotions I was going through. I learned one very clear message that year: always lock your doors.

College is not just a place where you grow academically and expand your horizons, it is also a place where you create memories that will make funny stories when you are with your coworkers at forty. Which is why it is important not only to embrace the uncomfortable, but to learn how to deal with it in a healthy manner. Let’s face it, everyone is going to deal with some level of discomfort, whether that’s speaking in front your peers for a class project or talking out your issues with your roommate. It has become clear to me that there are two types of people in the world, the one who make their discomfort a joke and gracefully overcome it and the one who awkwardly stays quiet about and grows anxious.

How do we deal with it? You breathe, you accept life for what it is and you share. College life asks a lot of their students, we have to live with strangers or friends. Which is, for the majority, a pain because everyone knows living with someone and knowing their habits is much different then hanging out with them every now and then. Let’s say one is upset about their room mates slothfulness or not paying their portion of the rent on time, how do we deal? We talk about it. Which is not always easy for everyone. You never know how someone may react to how and what you are saying to them but putting it off or avoiding it is never the answer. It is healthier for both parties to discuss the issues in a respectful and peaceful manner, like adults, so that the issues get’s addressed and resolved.

Some may ask, how do we deal with professors and their criticisms or grade of my work?Talk about it! It seems intimidating to go to your professor and say, “hey I don’t agree with the grade I received on this paper” but usually professors are understanding and will sit down with you to talk about it. Best case scenario, they will let you rewrite or edit your paper for a better grade.

Many people also forget to seek help, this is something even adults forget/avoid doing. We are human, we make mistakes and we are not invincible. Seeking help from professionals is often associated with trauma and looney people in an unstable state of mind, this is false! People who seek professional help when they recognize that they are not dealing with a problem(s) in a healthy manner are smart. These people are helping themselves be a better version of themselves. Even if one does not want to seek help from a professional like a psychologist then the best bet would be to go visit a friend or counselor who you trust to talk through whatever is challenging you. It may seem obvious but a lot of students forget that they have options!

I, myself will plead guilty to the fact that asking for help is uncomfortable and feels as though you are vulnerable. It’s not easy juggling school work, social life, personal life, and managing time and money. I get it, but bottling emotions and feeling as though you have the whole world on your shoulders is a much bigger burden than allowing someone to see you at your weakest.

Sometimes it’s best that we swallow our pride and do the uncomfortable to allow new opportunities to come our way. Getting out of our comfort zone means exposing yourself to new opportunities, it means allowing yourself to be heard, it means sharing your story for others to connect to and learn from. The truth is life is full of these weird moments where you don’t want to do the things that are required from you, but these are the “things” are the stepping stones to your goals, so just do it (like Nike). You never know, you might end up kicking yourself for not getting out there sooner.

Leobianny H.
Class of 2019
Majors: English & Communication
Workshop Theme: Embracing the Uncomfortable

Please Note: The views of our student bloggers do not necessarily reflect the views of the UAlbany Advisement Services Center. These are their stories and their voices.