Comparing yourself to classmates who are already launching startups.
COMPARING YOURSELF TO CLASSMATES WHO ARE ALREADY LAUNCHING STARTUPS.
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It's a bizarre, uniquely Ivy League sensation, isn't it? Scrolling through LinkedIn, or even just overhearing conversations in the dining hall, and realizing your roommate's already secured Series A funding for their tech venture, while you're still grappling with the finer points of your thesis proposal. Or seeing a freshman present a fully-fledged non-profit making national headlines. This isn't just about 'keeping up with the Joneses'; it's 'keeping up with the future disruptors, who are currently sitting three rows ahead in your calculus class.'
That gnawing feeling, the 'am I doing enough?' question that turns into 'am I even on the right track?' – it’s a silent battle many of us fight. The outside world sees the prestige; we live the pressure cooker. They don't understand that here, launching a startup before graduation feels less like an anomaly and more like a potential expectation. It’s hard to explain to friends back home why a peer’s early success can feel so deeply isolating, or how it makes you second-guess every decision.
But here’s the truth: your journey is yours alone. The incredible talent surrounding you is not a yardstick for your timeline, but a testament to the extraordinary environment you’re in. It's okay to not have it all figured out, or to be pursuing a path that isn't instantly generating buzz or venture capital. The 'Only at an Ivy' experience isn't just about the dazzling achievements; it's also about navigating these internal comparisons, learning to celebrate others without diminishing your own worth, and trusting that your unique path, in its own time, will also thrive. You're not alone in feeling this. We all get it.