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Okay, so you’ve read my title and are probably wondering what in the world I’m going on about. Here’s the short version: I’m talking about why you shouldn’t compare yourself to other people. For the know-it-alls who have heard this saying a bunch of times, just stick with me because I’m betting you haven’t heard it quite like this. And if you have, keep reading anyway.
Let’s make noodles
Imagine that we’re making a bowl of noodles (religiously eating noodles is quite a trait amongst engineers, and you know it). Like the chef that I am, I like adding several things to my noodles, including onions, seasonings, vegetables and assorted meats. My two favorite ingredients, however, are pepper and parsley. Two completely different ingredients, in terms of flavor, yet when combined, make the dish delicious. It would be wrong of me to try and compare these two ingredients, knowing full well they are both significant in the dish.
I wonder if you’re like that?
LIFE IS KIND OF LIKE A DISH
Our lives, believe it or not, are similar to that of dishes. We all have significant experiences and stories that “season” our lives with the lessons that we learn. These seasonings make our lives what they are now. So why is it that we compare our lives with another’s? Much like certain dishes are unique to certain cultures, our lives are unique to us.
Now yeah, I get it. You might say, “Michelle, my life sucks; something bad always happens and it seems like I can never be happy.” That’s a reasonable excuse for why you might feel the need to compare your life to another person’s, but what solution will that provide? Eventually, after fantasizing about another life, reality will still hit you — like that assignment you thought was due at 11:59 p.m. and it was actually due at 3 p.m. (I’m talking from personal experience).
Whether you’re feeling like this or not, I’m going to give you one tip that has helped me appreciate and value my life regardless of how many unfortunate events occur:
Introduce you to you
In the mirror or a journal, say one thing that you may not like about yourself and then rebut that statement by saying one thing that you do like about yourself or your life, in that specific order. It may sound weird but just try it. Someone once told me that anything before the word “but” doesn’t matter; it’s what comes after it that does.
Here, I’ll go first:
“Hi, I’m Michelle. I’m weird as heck, but I like how I’m able to overcome that by making people laugh. I don’t have the straightest teeth, but I like how I’m comfortable with showing my brightest smile.”
Closing
Life isn’t easy, and neither is college. But hey, think of it as another “seasoning” you’ve got to incorporate into your life. It’s not worth comparing yourself to another person’s experiences when you’ve got some cooking inside of you too.
You are you, and nobody else can ever be as cool, quirky, crazy or hilarious as you are. Be proud of that!
Architectural Engineering, Class of 2026
If you found this blog post interesting, you may consider reading “Making small talk as an engineer” and “Find your place in Aggieland.”