Wake up. Work. Eat. Socialize. Sleep. Repeat.
It's a rut, really. An enormously long, demarcated path that we follow either out of habit or out of convention. It suits us, fulfills our basic needs, and keeps us occupied. The socializing breaks up the monotony enough that we accept what we do on a daily basis. We don't notice ourselves digging deeper into the rut.
Oftentimes, you might see people with this hollow, burned out look in their face. Not necessarily in Caltech, but anywhere in public, though there are unfortunately a few Techers who get that way their senior year. They've accepted the rut so completely, so thoroughly, that they don't even see any other path to what they want than through the rut.
Wake up. Work. Eat. Socialize. Sleep. Repeat.
Job.
Career.
Life.
Retire.
"All can be obtained by going along this predestined path, no deviations are necessary, final goal is all that matters, I'll enjoy life later, I don't have to have fun now, let's just get by for now."
...
...
...
I hope that sounded as depressing to you as it does to me.
Sure it feels as though there's a set path to getting what you want out of college, and sure sometimes you have to be working just to "get by," but that's no reason to get stuck in the rut, to do the same thing over and over again and just accept it. Break up the monotony a little and enjoy the change, it'll make handling everything else a lot easier.
Next time you're on the way to class, take the long way around, maybe through some places you haven't been to before. Next time you head into your local hometown, go get lost in the streets and see what you can find on your way back (preferably during safer hours, like at noon). Next time you feel some stress, take some time to just go to a park, or to a roof, or anywhere out in your car and just stargaze for a bit. Let it all out.
And hey, it doesn't even have to be little things, either, it can be learning new things even. Try new activities once in a while, too. A harmonica, a ukulele, or a guitar can be bought on Amazon for less than a hundred dollars. Why not learn a new instrument? Recipes are easy to find online for bunches of dishes, why not get on that cooking skill? There's always places around town for swimming classes, dance classes, martial arts, visual arts, and a plethora of other things. Why not try something new?
I'm not saying there isn't a rut; I'm just saying that the rut isn't the only place you can or should be. There are boatloads of paths through life, and college specifically, that lead to the goals you want to achieve. Might as well pick the fun ones.
Adios,
Srinivasa Aditya "Contemplative" Bhattaru