Most TikTok users have heard the iconic first-week-of-school post audio, made by Irish singer-songwriter Aimee Carty: “I’m two days into college, and I’m three lectures behind!” Funny, right? I certainly thought so when I encountered such a video at 2 a.m. this week, then stopped smiling once I realized the song was basically talking about me. So I went back to grinding out AP United States History (APUSH) Key Concept Outline boxes at the wee hours, my hair still wet from a rainy marching band rehearsal, wondering how this could all possibly matter in 10 years. I texted my sister the following morning, complaining about it all. “Is it really that deep?” I asked her. She responded with “Unfortunately, it is that deep, that’s how the world works.” 

As much as I hated to admit it, she was right. For high school students, every minute of every hour is seemingly spent doing things just for the sake of looking good for college applications. The intention behind volunteering or joining clubs and teams blurs the line between genuine interest and the desire for a shiny new resume addition. The expectations to get into even a somewhat prestigious college are growing exponentially, with even the bare minimum being extremely difficult to achieve. 

It feels like everything has to be “monetized”. I told a family friend I loved photography, and they recommended trying to win a contest to put on college applications. I was looking into Humane Society volunteering to spend time with puppies, and was told to be strategic with my time spent there and look into leadership opportunities with them. How are we supposed to “explore our interests” when there seems to be a predetermined rulebook for a successful future written into every aspect of life?  

There is a joke in social media to tell English majors their coffee order, assuming in ten years that their collegiate degree will land them only a position as a barista. This is, in no way, helpful to anyone. Trendy jokes like this, or making fun of someone for releasing “cringey” music, are deterring youth from pursuing their true passions. Kids are becoming “pre-med” or “pre-law” at the ripe age of 10, influenced strongly by both the stigma against certain fields and the glorification of others; never even getting a chance to learn more about themselves first.

I am a big believer that at the end of the day, if you are strongly passionate about something and work hard enough, you can become successful. Although everyone’s definition of “success” is different, it doesn’t just mean making six figures; it can mean having a career you actually enjoy, spending every day discovering a little more about yourself and the world around you.

So maybe—just maybe— it isn’t that deep after all.