I waited anxiously on a bench at eight in the morning, watching the gym fill up with Asics sneakers and yoga mats. Drawstring bags and water bottles littered the ground, and everybody grinned in a maniacal manner. The overall atmosphere was heavy with sweat and anticipation — we were about to begin day one of a weekend long workout session, and we could not be more excited.
In that moment, I felt utterly content with my surroundings. I knew I had found a place where I fit in — a group where people don’t find it crazy to love running, or to eat protein bars like candy, or to consider workout clothes typical everyday attire. It was a moment of intense clarity — I was surrounded by ‘My People.’
You may have met some of your own People before, and, if so, you understand the sense of belonging which comes from sharing the same passions and eccentricities with those around you. Your People will most likely share your crazy interests and guilty pleasures. They will very seriously debate topics with you that others know nothing about, and they will understand your obscure jokes and references — if you’re lucky, they may even laugh at some of them.
My People discussed their favorite flavor of Quest Bar at dinner for about 30 minutes and engaged in a heated debate about whether chocolate or cookie dough was better. They secretly loved experiencing the post-workout burn by 5 p.m. and used it as an excuse to eat an inhuman amount of food for the rest of the night.
I met My People at a fitness expo, where everyone shared my appreciation for a friendly atmosphere and a solid workout. As a runner and Kinesiology major, I fit perfectly into the crowd of fitness enthusiasts. Your People may have entirely different interests. They may be science enthusiasts or members of a debate society. They may not even fit so simply into a specific category.
Whatever Your People choose to do with their time, they all have one thing in common — they make you realize you are not normal. In fact, you might be decidedly abnormal; a regular weirdo who enjoys doing or discussing things regular people find boring or strange. However, being this specific kind of weird is what Your People like best about you. Your individual weirdness is what connects and bonds you to Your People and sets you apart from the rest of the world.
If you have not found Your People yet, don’t give up searching. Your problem may be that you feel uncomfortable or isolated in your idiosyncrasies, and you haven’t revealed yourself to those who share your quirks. After all, if you don’t let people see the eccentricities which make you unique, how can Your People ever recognize you?
So join a strange club, even if you don’t know anybody else in it. Talk openly about things you find interesting. Take different classes, try out for teams, sign up for quirky events. U.Va. has plenty of little niches people can squeeze into, but you must be dedicated and brave enough to seek one out.
I almost didn’t attend that fitness expo out of sheer intimidation. I had never been to an expo before, and I didn’t know any of the other students attending. I had no idea what to expect.
However, once you find Your People, you will no longer feel so lost. Not because the world is any less chaotic, but because you will soon realize everyone is a little lost, and you are never alone in your thoughts or ideas. Nobody gets through college successfully by themselves, and of the thousands of undergraduates here on grounds, there are bound to be some People who can guide you through the journey.
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