When excelling at “everything” becomes impossible
As most college students know, higher education is never easy. It’s more academically challenging than high school classes, and no matter how well you did then, your high school success doesn’t necessarily mean you’re prepared for college courses. It’s common for college students to feel overwhelmed and unsure of themselves, no matter how academically rigorous the school is. Wofford is no exception. Princeton Review even included Wofford in its list of “The Best 384 Colleges.” Our academics come first here, and somehow, we are still expected to make time for clubs, jobs and social activities.
The pressure Wofford students often feel to go above and beyond in leadership, academics and their social lives can be intense. Many students I know have felt unqualified in comparison to their fellow students, because they are only active in three clubs instead of five, or because they are only planning to have one major and one minor instead of a double majoring. I was most curious about how the new freshman class sees what I will refer to as “Wofford Exceptionalism.” I first heard this term from Campus Reformed University Fellowship (RUF) leader Matt Patrick in a discussion regarding anxiety over freshman year grades. Wofford Exceptionalism is used to describe the tendency of Wofford students to push themselves to excel in every aspect of their college experience.
I asked four freshmen to meet with me over a meal in Burwell to ask them some questions about this topic:
- What is your Wofford “load” like? As in, what classes, how many hours, what clubs, hobbies, etc. are you involved in?
- How would you say you’re handling your new college world so far?
- Do you feel like you have a lot on your plate?
- Looking at the upperclassmen, how do you feel your responsibilities compare?
- Do you feel like Wofford puts too much pressure on their students to go above and beyond?
- Do you find it strange that so many Wofford students double major or double minor, along with their many clubs and activities?
- What are your plans for the future?
The freshmen I interviewed are typical Wofford students. Their course load varies from thirteen to seventeen hours, and each one is involved in different clubs and are interested in different majors. The students I talked with are very driven, and they each have a plan for the future, such as becoming a doctor or moving to Alaska to become a lawyer for foster kids. They agreed that compared to other schools, Wofford students do seem to put more pressure on themselves to be better—Wofford Exceptionalism in action.
“Out of class hours can be a lot.” Said one student, “especially for FYI, when it only counts as a one hour course.”
So far, they felt like they had been handling their new classes and work load fairly well. Most of their homework is manageable, and it only became overwhelming every once in a while. Most importantly, they agreed that the pressure so many Wofford students face does not come from Wofford itself. They see it coming more so from the students: “A lot of students do seem to double major or double minor. I don’t think it’s that weird here at Wofford, but compared to other schools it is.”
The four freshmen I interviewed believe that Wofford’s hardworking student body is so focused on success because Wofford attracts students who are already diligent students and community leaders. They believe upperclassmen are able to handle their course load better because they are older. For them, Wofford has helped ease their transition and they feel more prepared to be excellent students because of it.
So, maybe the way we Wofford students push ourselves to do just one more activity or just one more class isn’t so different from our friends, but it is something that stands out about Wofford to some of the new freshmen.
If left unchecked, however, “Wofford Exceptionalism” can be blinding. Instead of feeling motivated and encouraged by the successful students around us, it is tempting to compare ourselves with the student that gets just one more A while taking on another extracurricular, which can leave students feeling like a failure. I will call this the “Blowback of Wofford Exceptionalism.”
Since the freshmen I spoke with said that the problematic-side of Wofford Exceptionalism comes from the students themselves, the solution to any problematic part such a concept must come from the students as well. To be accepted into Wofford, students must be somewhat successful in high school and manage a few extracurricular activities. It helps to remember that we have already proven that we are capable of managing our time and using our intelligence successfully. If we did it then, then certainly we can do it now. Another way to avoid the “Blowback of Wofford Exceptionalism” is to focus on our own schoolwork and passions rather than the successes or failures of our peers. Reminding yourself that working a full-time job carries the same amount of value as starting your own club or adding another minor, helps to ease anxiety surrounding this phenomenon.
Overall, “Wofford Exceptionalism” is a positive force that motivates Wofford students. Freshmen see it, and feel prepared to join in. But in case you’re feeling overwhelmed in comparison to your classmates, know that you are not alone, and that whatever you’re doing is enough.
Written by Allison Sherman