Big Sean once said, “I’ve been working on myself, and that’s the most important work even if you don’t get paid for it.” Now maybe you’re not a fan of the Detroit based rapper, nor do you care for his musical releases, but surely, there must be some truth which rings in his words.

The 2018-2019 school year has already begun, and for me, Mr. Sean Anderson’s philosophical insights hold particularly true. As I navigated between classes and around school for my first two days, I couldn’t help but notice the exchange of numerous purple sheets between students in just about every class period and hallway. “Can I see your schedule?” was usually the strung together phrase that accompanied this brief transaction.

While there’s nothing wrong at all with wanting to check schedules with other people whether it be out of curiosity or to confirm if you share any classes with friends and acquaintances, I’ve noticed a growing trend in what seems to be a hyper desire to constantly be involved in how one compares to another.

How many AP’s is this person taking? Where do I stand against them GPA wise? What classes are they in that I’m not in? Should I be in said classes? How do I measure up with those around me? How did people spend their summer compared to me? Whose resume is beefier?

All of these questions seem to be a part of a long list of queries that frequent students’ minds.

And that’s where Big Sean’s words of wisdom come into play.

Playing an unhealthy game of incessant comparison and constantly contrasting yourself with your immediate environment is exhausting. Not only that but unnecessary as well. With a new school year kicking off, I believe it’s important for an individual to consider what they want out of the next nine months of their academic life.

What goals do you have? What do you want to get accomplished this year? What can you do to achieve the things you have in mind?

You have a fresh new slate to work with, and you can turn over a new leaf. Maybe you want to make all A’s in your classes this year. Or maybe your goal isn’t particularly related to school work at all but a focus on improving your relationships with other people and how you treat them.

Whatever it may be, make this year about working on YOU, improving yourself, and becoming the best version of yourself. Distractions come and go. You might be intimidated by others’ successes when you may not see your own growth, but remember to keep your eyes on your own prize and stop aiming for other people’s personalized targets. In the end, you live your own life. You make of your future and your present what you will through your own personal choices and work ethic. Do what makes you happy and a better human being.

Stop worrying about what the next person down the line is working on. Start thinking about what you want to work on about yourself. Also question why it’s important and relevant to you to work on these things. Self-improvement starts where jealousy and distractions end and initiative and responsibility begin.

If you put your mind to it, you can be on track to accomplish or engage in whatever it is that you enjoy. As one school year has come to a close, another one has just begun. With it comes the opportunities of exploring your potential, realizing what you’re really made of, and forming your own life mottos, values, and belief systems.

Use this precious time to do so. Putting in the work to becoming a better you is an ongoing process. It takes commitment, self-introspection, and accountability.

It’s easy to float into a mentality of comparison. Many people rely falsely on where they stand in a group of peers for a sense of security. I say tether yourself to your own rock of self-worth, confidence, and validation, however. Seek comfort instead from your own interests and challenge yourself to be an improved you.

Happiness, success, and contentment comes from within. So goes the cliché, but it’s up to you whether you truly accept that and act accordingly. Whether it’s your last year of high school (yes, seniors, you too, you’re not exempt from this) or your very first, get busy shaping yourself up to make progress and begin another adventure of self-exploration.

Write down those goals of yours. Or type it up if that’s what floats your boat. Prioritize those ambitions but also pursue them for the right reasons and know genuinely why they align with your sense of purpose.

It’s easy to get caught up in a cesspool of dark thoughts where you’re always more interested in what others are up to and using your peers’ activities and accomplishments as litmus tests for your own degree of success and productivity. Remember, though, that we all have our own work cut out for us in the pursuit of self-improvement, and no two of us are alike.

Start thinking about who it is that you want to be.

Get on track to become that person.