I love listening to podcasts because they allow me to learn from other people’s experiences. Hearing about how people navigated living in a new country or started a business or dealt with a breakup gives me insight into how I might navigate those situations.
Last week was the first week of classes. Now that I am a senior, I intend to enter this academic year with a lot more perspective than I’ve had in the past. Perspective is tricky, because it implies a behavioral shift in addition to a mental one. I am searching for new ways to relate to my classes, my friends, Princeton.
In this search, I have stumbled upon a fantastic concept: learning from other students. Yes, I am here at Princeton to learn math and history and computer science, but since I’m here, I might as well also learn how to live.
Let me explain. In this moment, there are a few traits I am intentionally trying to cultivate in myself. Having a high sense of agency is one of them. These first few weeks back on campus, it’s been cool to notice this trait in my friends.
An example: after complaining to my friend about the logistical challenges of planning a birthday party, he asked, “Why don’t you just ask your friends for help?” (Asking for help instead of just leaving myself to suffer, what a concept!) That moment reaffirmed my intention to take steps to resolve problems and create opportunities in my life rather than simply accepting circumstances I don’t like.
Looking even further ahead, I’ve had a lot of conversations recently about my plans post-graduation. “What career do you want to pursue?” people ask. “Where do you want to live?”
No one ever asks, “Who do you want to be?”
A big question, I know, but if I don’t figure out who I want to be, then other people will tell me who I should want to be.
So as I attend my precepts and eat lunch in the dining hall and host events for my residential college, I will continue to learn from how my friends decorate their dorm rooms, how they think about the long arc of their careers, and the impact they want to have on their communities.
And my wish for myself this senior year is to keep learning from those around me.
P.S. A very concrete way I’ve been learning from my peers is through using the resources at the McGraw Learning Center. Talking through how I think about academics in relation to the rest of my life with someone else has been quite a source of perspective.