Junior year has hit me like a truck. Higher level classes, classmates abroad and the noise about summer internships and professional life after Hamilton has put a damper on my happy-go-lucky, collegiate soul. Sitting on the third floor of the library, in desperate need of advice on how to find peace in what seems like an already tumultuous and pressure-filled year, I turned to the ghosts of Hamilton College. And by ghosts, I mean old Spec advice columnists from years past. One article, from Jose Vasquez ’15 had some particularly useful advice that I think we all can learn from.
Jose Vazquez ’15 shared similar feelings about feeling overwhelmed with work and extracurriculars: “It felt as if I was running on a treadmill gone haywire where I couldn’t keep up with the standards I thought were expected of me.” Vasquez emphasized the importance of being present. He listed a few concrete tips on how to stay grounded in the moment. Firstly, he urged his peers to ignore their phones when in a conversation with a friend or earring dinner. Our phones consistently rob us of the present moment, and thieve us of the joy that comes with having intimate conversations with friends. Maybe challenge a friend to a day or two of being “unplugged.” Not only will this help you stay focused but it will also ensure you have time for recreation. Prioritizing some amount of time regularly for a hobby you love is important. Play is vital to being successful academically.
Despite being published 10 years ago, I have a feeling Vasquez’s next piece of advice might still apply to some of you. Vasquez writes “Stop telling yourself you are ‘too busy.’ Prioritize time and stop watching Taylor Swift music videos for hours on end.” The Taylor Swift fandom lives on 10 years later. And while hours on YouTube have been replaced by afternoon TikTok scrolling sessions after class, Vasquez’s sentiment still stands. Limiting time online, finding peace in the present moment and turning both inwards and to the people around us minimizes distraction and certainly promises a more meditative life.
Alone time is important and Vasquez insisted that we carve out time for solitude and bask in our time by ourselves. He urges his peers to “Have a solo dance party in your room, and take yourself out of the work grind (Shakira is my usual go-to).” Shakira must be timeless because “Hips Don’t Lie” and “She- Wolf” never fail to find their way onto the que for my solo dance sessions. Physical movement, music and alone time is a recipe for rejuvenation. Cherish your time by yourself. College is the ultimate test of our ability to perform socially at all times. We all need some reprieve.
Vasquez also saw importance in rewarding yourself. He writes, “‘Treat. Yo. Self.’–Tom Haverford (eat that Opus cookie and share it with someone).” No more Opus, but Fojo and Euphoria have wonderful baked treats and coffee. A little afternoon in Fojo with a matcha, imagining you are in a boho cafe in Europe is sometimes all you need to expand your mind, think beyond Hamilton and imbue your life with a little romance.
Vasquez encouraged his peers to be present by asking themselves questions “What do I enjoy? What are my strengths? When am I my best self?” All too often, we are answering the questions of others. Take time to ask yourself something.
Have big assignments coming up? Vasquez said gratitude is the cure for the stress that comes with a heavy workload. “My life at Hamilton dramatically improved when I looked around and started thanking the people who carried me through difficult times at the College… I finally made a conscious effort to stop stressing over work and benefitted from looking around and recognizing those who make this place better.” Psychology studies have empirically proven that expressing gratitude improves mental health. Allocating time for expressing gratitude into your day will help relieve you of academic stress. It could be as easy as jotting a few words down in your Notes app as you eat breakfast and keeping a running tally of all the things you are grateful for.
Vasquez concluded by saying “Hamilton has become that experimental playground for my life and I hope that most of you take risks, make mistakes, continuously reflect and above all, shake it off.” Lean into Vasquez’s philosophy and let Hamilton be your playground.
Lifting my head from the rabbit hole of Spec archives, I turned back to my wooden cubby on the third floor of Burke, and gazed out the window at North Hall. I shut my computer, and walked to dark-side where I met my co Features Editor, Meg Stroup at diner for a late night munch. Stress in college is normal, but the words of wisdom from previous Hamiltonians might help us retain our happy college spirits as we hurdle towards a world beyond Hamilton.