I used school as a means of escape

 - by Sylva Johnson
   Gayly Intern 

Hello, readers. This month is going back to school month, which can be a major stressor for a lot of people; it can also be exciting for some.

It very much depends on how you may view school, either as an escape or something that feels a bit more like a chore.

My home life was not great; however, when I went to school, I was able to use it as a means of escape. I did not feel a lot of the same mental pressures that I felt at home.

So, like me, there are plenty of people who do use school as a way to focus on something else outside of personal and public pressures.

There are plenty of people who deal with bad things in school or work because, well… people are petty and jealous when they let their emotions dictate their actions. Or in other words, crazy and vindictive.

Here is my advice to those of you dealing with those kinds of people. Focus on your own things, focus on your assignments and tests, focus on things that are either neutral or that you enjoy doing in your free time.

Even with people like that, what I tend to do is focus on myself. What I tend to think is: “What are the things that I need to take care of and need to get done?”

I do this so that I don’t focus on other people’s drama or what situations are going on around me.

Some major things that I, as a person going to college, tend to focus on are my own things when school comes around.

First off, think about what you may need for the college dorm room that you are going to be in. 

What clothes do you need for the fall and spring semesters? What appliances will you need? Are there any things that you absolutely need to bring with you for your classes?

Which brings us to the next part: figure out what you need for classes either before class starts or around when classes start.

After you have moved in and have been taking care of your assignments and tests, you can, and should, hang out with your friends to take time to release your stress together.

When you take time to be with your friends, you will feel happier in the long run.

If you do not like social gatherings, you can focus on things that bring you joy, or that you generally like doing on your own.

All in all, school is something that should assist with your understanding of the world, not tell you how you “should” view it.

Every person is going to have their own perspective of things and of how the world operates.

I hope you have a great start to your school year or fall semester if you are in college!

The Gayly online. 8/11/26 @ 6:20 p.m. CST.