Hey ya girl’s back, finished school and still taking on the world! This past semester, I reconnected with a special friend of mine, Lili, the very first real friend I made at Marist. We had not seen each other in probably a year or more before this past semester since we lost touch with the pandemic and just our lives in general. Once we reconnected though, it felt as if we never lost touch in the first place.

I love my small circle of friends, and I also love friendships like that; picking up right where we left off, no matter how much time has gone on.

I didn’t always like having only a small circle, as I used to be a bit disappointed leaving high school with only a few close friends. Pretty sure a lot of this had to do with some of the fake “picture perfect” perceptions on social media. And honestly, not much changes in college.

I’ve had many conversations about this before, as I know others feel this too. If I have to sum up those conversations, it would be: “social media can make people feel lonely.” In college, most posts are of hanging out or partying, showing that everyone is having a good time (or are they?). I have done this too, and it’s not a bad thing. But having these photos constantly blow up someone’s feed, it could feel like they’re missing out. I know it does for me sometimes.

And that doesn’t mean I have no social life because I do. I’m just saying it’s a completely common feeling to have; especially when you don’t have plans one night, or you do but you aren’t having a great time. Trust me, I’ve been through both.

I love each and every one of these humans in this photo, and overall, this was a fun night! Now, what if I told you tell that earlier in the night I had an anxiety attack?? That I wasn’t at my best when this photo was taken? (Still lookin good though 😉 ) I was triggered by some bad memories, and got really overwhelmed for awhile. So you see, it was not a perfect night, even if the picture might seem that way. I’m just grateful for my friends helping me get through it ❤

There’s probably tons of pictures on social where it can seem like someone’s having fun but the reality of it isn’t always that… 

I always tell people, c’mon, you don’t know what’s actually going on. There could have been a fight between two of them just before, or one of them drank a little too much and ended up getting sick, or no one was having fun so they took a photo and left fifteen minutes later. My point is, you just don’t know the whole story.

The reality for me is I left college with a few close friends, and a lifetime of memories. It wasn’t perfect, and I never want someone to view it that way. College for me was about growing into who I am and what I want to do in life.

I’m going to miss having dinners at favorite local restaurants, shopping at the villages nearby, and having fun nights out with friends; whether or not they are shown through photos.

My life is definitely not my social media. Nobody’s life is, no matter how hard they try to make it seem that way.