What Did You Come For

I came to change things.  I came to be somebody.  I came to tell a story.

Seems like I have to repeat this mantra to myself while I'm at Uni.  I'd lost sight of my ambition, even my dreams whilst lost in the illusion of having friends at Uni.

Don't get me wrong, your course mates will always be your friend in some form.  But there is a severe difference between a friend and an acquaintance.  There's nothing wrong with having an acquaintance, as long as you are aware that that's what they are.  An acquaintance can morph back into a friend at different points of your life, and that's fine too.  But being aware of the change, is what separates you from a Machiavelli and a fool.

I've been resting on my laurels recently, and haven't been working as hard as I would have liked.  Several of my course mates think they have an advantage over me, and that's fine.  Play lame and stay in the game.

University is bizarrely brutal.  If your course mates sniff weakness in you, they will try to devour you.  There are two ways to go about it.  For one thing don't confuse your course mates with your friends.  This isn't some girl you knew since you were 6, or some guy you thought would always be there for you.  There is no maturity in cutting them out of your life.  Do you think that not speaking to someone is going to make them disappear, or improve your chances of success in life?  It won't.  Life isn't always about doing what you want, when you want.  

This is university, which is basically work.  This isn't a friend, this is a potential work colleague, or worse, a boss.  This is someone that wants a qualification and they'd step over you to get a higher mark.  This is someone who'd feign friendship, and use you to appear superior.  This is also someone whose fierce competition can inspire you to work harder, faster and to a standard that you previously hadn't reached. 

So flip the switch.

This is someone you can pretend to be friends with too.  This is someone who can be played, whilst trying to play you.  This is someone you can use.  Don't tell all your business.  Keep it light.  Don't fall out.  Drift in and out of each others' lives.  

But always remember who you are, what you want, and what you came for.  Stay true to you and know that the world isn't black and white.  We drift into patches of grey constantly.  It's called life.  So play the game.

And win.