How to Know You're on the Right Path
photo by Catherine Campbell
How to Know You’re on the Right Path
second-year claire d’agostino
Self-help articles and books often tell us that we are doing well in life when our chakras align or when we don’t hesitate on making important decisions. However, maybe doing life right is about the ordinary experiences — ones that reflect our true selves. Okay, maybe I’m no better than some pretentious, old self-help author … but would you rather take advice from them or a nineteen-year-old college student with barely any life experience? Without further ado, here’s a guide to living life … through my life!
Don’t study in an indie coffee shop:
I’ll be the first to admit that I am the worst procrastinator in the world. For some reason, I am cursed with the inability to start an essay until the night before it is due. I usually attempt to break this curse by taking my computer and my willpower to the library or my desk. However, on this particular occasion, I decided to venture out and found no better place than a hole in the wall coffee shop to foster my creativity. Immediately upon entering the doors, I noticed that everyone had cool outfits and radiated good vibes. I was consumed by my need to be better than everyone. I had to order a cool drink so that the barista wouldn’t think I was lame: an oat milk latte with lavender and honey. Time flew by with the click of my camera taking an artsy picture of my studyspace. I did not get any more work done than I would have at the library; in fact, I think I did less work. Movies about college led me to believe that studying in a cool coffee shop would warp time and allow me to finish an essay with the sip of an overpriced latte. However, it is important not to adhere to societal standards. Prioritize what is best for you, personally.
If you see a cool stranger on the road, compliment their Harry Styles air freshener:
Last year, my mom invited my friends and I to meet her at a hot dog restaurant that served extravagant milkshakes. Little did we know, it was a dingy gas station restaurant whose employees were high-as-a-kite. While the milkshakes were incredible, it was a let down to my mom who really wanted my friends and I to have a nice meal. Yet, when I think about this memory, I don’t think of how it took 45 minutes to get a hot dog; rather, I think of the girl we passed on the drive to the restaurant who had a Harry Styles air freshener dangling from her mirror. Of course, we rolled down the window and told her we loved it. I distinctly remember laughing at how weirded out she was by these strangers yelling at her about Harry Styles. Look at things from a new perspective — it’s cliche but life is not about the destination, but the journey.
Be aware of Motel 6:
Unbeknownst to me, you have to be 21+ in order to check into a hotel room. After calling every hotel in the Chattanooga area inquiring about their age requirement, our three-day spring break seemed ruined. The only option that allowed 18+ to check in was a Motel 6. According to the Google Reviews, there were prostitutes and bed bugs littering the place. Fortunately, my friend’s mom called one of the hotels and convinced them to let us check in. Sometimes, an outside source intervenes in order to put everything in place. At times, it may seem easier to be self-reliant because it seems like people can be a let-down. However, it is important to be surrounded by community.
Spend the night in your friend’s bed immediately after meeting her:
To preface, no, I was not drunk. The first semester of freshman year I had a few friends — one who had become my first college friend after an exchange of compliments on the bus and the other who I had met in a group setting. I was hanging out with both friends, along with the latter friend’s roommate who I had met a handful of times. By the time we had said our goodbyes, I realized how late it was: 3 am! We all decided to crash in the dorm and I had to share a twin-sized bed with a girl I barely knew. Now, those three girls are some of my closest friends and roommates. I never expected us to get so close and I definitely wasn’t planning on sharing a bed with a stranger. Be open to new experiences because they have the capacity to change lives.