Anonymous

Photography by Ben Curry

If you’re reading this, perfect is the enemy of good.

I graduated from CC several years ago. With space and time away from campus, I feel confident saying that Colorado College and its students' experiences are unlike any other – it’s so special to attend an excellent school in the Rockies with the opportunities to spend a week in the desert or BACA for field trips, travel abroad for a block, and bond with classmates and friends over block breaks. Nevertheless, it’s important to remind ourselves that despite its extraordinary opportunities, college– and the block plan– can be hard. And isolating.

I was a STEM student, and taking one class at a time with labs and athletics and clubs and adjuncts and jobs and volunteering events and every other extracurricular under the sun is hard! I was so busy that I rarely prioritized friends and taking care of myself, which I craved deeply. I spent so much time and energy (physical and emotional) striving to be the best version of myself by performing well athletically, building my resume with extracurriculars and clubs, and achieving perfect grades, just like many of my peers did. In the process, I isolated myself and lost sight of what allowed me to be the best version of myself– seeking support when I needed it, spending time with people who fill my cup, and practicing self-care. 

In hindsight, it’s easy to see that my perception of other CC students' lives was delusional, and the comparisons I made were detrimental to my mental health; however, in that moment, I wanted to exude the confident, successful and easy lifestyle that I was convinced so many of my classmates lived. CC students are so passionate, involved, creative, innovative, and good at having fun that when observed from afar, they all appear to be living a perfect, worry-free life. The truth is that nobody is perfect and nobody’s life is perfect. Frankly, perfection is boring!  Everyone has or currently faces adversity regardless of whether they share it. Comparing oneself to others never has a happy ending– we end up as victims to the narratives we create about those around us.

While CC may be difficult from time to time, You rise to the challenge for each block of the year. You are resilient, You are a critical thinker, You are worthy, and You are what makes Colorado College a very special place. So…. I encourage you to throw your comparisons aside, celebrate your imperfections, be vulnerable, and focus your energy towards having fun instead of being perfect. 

You may experience your highest highs, lowest lows, and everything in-between at CC. Your community will be by your side through each season of life, and they’ll know how to best support you if you open up and ask for help. Now is a good time to start.

Anonymous, Colorado College

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