The Fear of Missing Out

Ever since I stepped into university, I started noticing something I had never paid much attention to before.
A quiet buzz. A silent pressure. A constant comparison.

Everywhere I looked, people seemed to be engaged in various activities, including internships, competitions, startups, research papers and what not! And suddenly, I felt like I wasn’t doing enough. Like I was falling behind. That’s the thing about FOMO. It creeps in quietly. One moment you’re proud of yourself, the next you’re scrolling through someone else’s highlight reel, wondering if you even measure up.

And when that happens, the self-doubt begins.

Am I good enough?
Do I really have the caliber?
Am I falling behind?
Do I even have what it takes?
Maybe I’m not meant for this.

That’s how FOMO works. It tricks you into thinking you’re the only one struggling, while everyone else is racing ahead.

Seeing Through a Clear Lens

But when I slow down and look at things clearly, I know the truth. I’ve always been someone who figures things out. I’ve always built, experimented, pushed through doubts. That hasn’t changed just because I entered university. If anything, this is where that persistence matters most. Now, I am not saying I am so proud of myself as I have achieved bigger things in life, but surely I am proud of the fact that I am away from the rat race. I just believe in competing myself.

Whenever I work with my seniors, sometimes I get reality checks, and yes, I am not strong enough to take it that lightly. I do cry and continue crying, but a moment comes when I realise that girl, this is the phase of learning, and you are going to do it. 

FOMO doesn’t create anything. It doesn’t take you forward. It just leaves you restless, scrolling, comparing, doubting. Introspection does the opposite. It makes you pause. It makes you see where you actually are, what you really want, and how you can get there.

And hard work? That’s the only thing that ever mattered. Not who did what first. Not who looks the busiest. Just the hours you put in when nobody’s watching.

Becoming Instead of Comparing

Some nights, I remind myself of the kid I used to be, the one who made things complicated just to learn how to fix them. That kid wasn’t afraid of failing. She was curious. She believed that mistakes were the beginning, not the end.

That’s who I still am.

So yes, the fear of missing out is everywhere. But I’ve learned something important: it’s not about missing out on what others are doing. It’s about not missing out on who you are becoming.

And that journey, no matter how slow or messy, is mine to make.