The Real World Spiel

The Real World Spiel Hey everyone, Midsummer Nights Dream opera was a beautiful set and I enjoyed it! As I  mentioned last time, Im not  a huge fan of operas, but I did appreciate the fantastic effort in casting this Shakespearean romantic comedy.  Its incredible to see what students can do to prepare for a production, whether thats memorizing lines in opera form, designing the forest set, or performing in an orchestra  succinctly. Definitely add watching a  Krannert show to your things  to  do before I graduate bucket list once youre here at Illinois! Anyhoo, midterms are approaching and the pressure for seniors to begin the job hunt has begun.  It makes me cringe when I hear my friends or peers or even parents mention that once we  join the real world, life will be  different. While in college, youll meet all sorts of people pulling off the adult life, or adulting. Some of your friends will work almost full time and attend classes as a full-time student, some will volunteer and dedicate themselves to a cause and theyll disappear from your life until the weekends, and some will need to say no to your invites to a Netflix movie night because  theyre studying ahead for a chem exam. Its safe to say students here come from all different backgrounds, and its crazy to assume youll ever understand each and every person who walks past you on  the Quad. Either way, were busy people, and just because were intrigued by  free food and free T-shirts doesnt mean we cant complain about our daily struggles. Im compelled to write this after listening to a friend mention hes embarrassed to go to counseling for job anxiety. Its strange for people to  think he must not be experiencing the real world because hes young and still going through those formative years. Some students might not like to talk about the issues bothering them, but its important to know there are tons of resources on our campus for students struggling emotionally, physically, and financially, and its important that if youre ever in a conversation with a friend  feeling blue, you tell them help is only a phone call away here. You never know what  grabbing a  coffee, taking them out for lunch, or sending them a simple text can do, too. For the most part, campus life is equated with living in a bubble where its easier to meet and make friends, and theres a level of inquisitive gestures we make as young college students, but  that doesnt have to stop once you graduate from high school or college! Its only normal you come into a space and recognize that this campus will be your canvas, and its okay to be abstract art no one understands, since youll  experience things that will impact you socially and academically. And if your professor  or older sibling or friend says youre not in the real world yet,  dont take it seriously. Youre tackling your own battles in your own way, and I think youll turn out just fine. ?? Jenny Class of 2016 I'm majoring in Creative Writing in the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences. I'm from the north side of Chicago, an artsy neighborhood along the lakefront called Andersonville. I plan to pursue a low-residency MFA program in Fiction Writing with the hope of becoming a published author.