Waiting can be difficult yet rewarding

We live in a world where everything is instant.

We can have ChatGPT write our emails, connect with a friend with a click of a button and see what others are up to through social media. We don't have to wait at all.

So, we expect to have it all figured out when it comes to life. 

The college, the major, the roommate, the friends, the partner or the job should be instant and easy, right? 

The first few weeks of college were difficult for me. Other than my roommate, who I knew next to nothing about, I didn't know anyone on campus. Days were long and nights were lonely. I tried to get out of my comfort zone and meet people, but it wasn't happening as I thought it would. 

Slowly, I got to know my roommate better, the girl in my hall, some students in my classes. Slowly, I had a few friends. But I still didn't have a group, just individuals I hung out with. 

I joined a dance group, tried clubs and went to nights the campus had planned, yet there was still no group. Eventually, I became OK with it. I told myself I was better with one-on-one relationships anyway. I met more people, became more comfortable in my surroundings and started showing the real me. And people found me.

In today's world, we see the highlights of someone's life. Through social media and even brief conversations, we are made to believe that they are doing so much better than we are and that we are behind. We think that when we have to wait for something, it means we are doing something wrong and get impatient. We are in a world of instant gratification, so when something needs some time to work itself out, we panic, thinking our life is over when, in reality, we are just starting. 

Life has its ups and downs and its straight lines where life is mundane; things aren't good, but they aren’t bad, either. It is just neutral and bland. We always need to accomplish something, be with people or have the time of our lives in college or in our 20s. 

Still, sometimes we need to study eight hours a day for a midterm, sometimes we have to nap, sometimes chores need to be done. We need to work dull jobs to go to because we need the money. 

Waiting is difficult, but it makes the things we were waiting for sweeter.