Greyhound Freedom Wall
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To the People Still Looking for “Your People”
Hello, Admin! I hope you consider publishing this. I just want to share something I’ve learned from my own experience about "finding your people in the university."
I know that for many college students, finding your circle can be difficult. There are moments when you feel left out, when you’re always the one trying to fit in, or when you find yourself constantly surrounded by people but still wondering, “Do I really have my people here?”
If you’re currently in that season, here are a few things I hope you understand early on:
1. Learn to be okay on your own.
In college, you have to learn how to make things work even when you’re alone.
Kumain mag-isa. Gumawa ng requirements mag-isa. Umattend ng school events mag-isa. Sometimes, you simply have to show up for yourself.
Independence is important. You have to learn how to stand on your own before you can truly build meaningful relationships with others.
Sabi nga, “How can you give something you do not possess?” In this case, how can you give companionship if you cannot even be good company to yourself?
2. Be true to yourself, and the right people will eventually find you.
You don’t have to pretend to be someone else just to be accepted.
You don’t have to change your personality, interests, values, or beliefs just so people will like you. The right people will appreciate you for who you genuinely are.
It took me almost three years before I finally found what I could call “my people.” So don’t rush it. Sometimes, the best friendships take time to find.
3. Don’t be afraid to be vulnerable sometimes.
Share your dreams. Your aspirations. Your thoughts. Your realizations. Your fears and even the things you’re still trying to understand about yourself.
You’ll be surprised how often someone will say, “Ako rin.”
Sometimes, vulnerability becomes the doorway to genuine connection. You don’t always have to keep everything to yourself.
4. Learn to take accountability.
When you’re wrong, admit it.
When you hurt someone, apologize.
And when necessary, be the first one to say sorry.
Because sometimes, saying “I’m sorry” isn’t about admitting defeat. It means that you value the relationship more than you value winning the argument.
Ego can win an argument, but humility can save a relationship.
5. Friends can become the family we choose.
And when you finally find your people, treasure them.
Letting someone into your life is an active decision. You chose to trust them, to share your experiences with them, and to allow them to become part of your journey.
Treat them like family. Have their backs. Celebrate their victories. Be there when life becomes difficult. And when they need a helping hand, don’t be afraid to lend yours whenever you can.
Because at the end of the day, family is everything.
6. Not all of your kindness will be noticed and that’s okay.
No matter how hard you try to be a good person, there will always be people who won’t see your intentions, appreciate your efforts, or understand the heart behind your actions.
And that’s okay.
Your kindness is a reflection of who you are, not who they are.
You don’t have to become bitter just because someone failed to appreciate your goodness. Keep doing what is right.
As I always say, “May balik ’yan.”
And to you, my dearest brothers and sisters:
Life may have already drifted us in different directions. We may no longer see each other as often as we used to, and our lives may have taken us to places we never expected.
But one thing will always remain certain:
Your presence during my college years was one of the peaks of my journey in the academe.
You were there during the sleepless nights, the deadlines, the celebrations, the disappointments, the laughter, the breakdowns, and all the little moments in between.
Perhaps college wasn’t just about the degree we earned.
Maybe it was also about the people we met along the way, the friendships we built, and the versions of ourselves that we discovered because of them.
So, if you’re still waiting to find your people, don’t worry.
You will.
Until then, learn to enjoy your own company, remain genuine, be kind, and keep showing up.
Your people are out there.
And when you finally find them, you’ll understand why it was worth the wait. ❤️