Beating the January Blues

Editorial - Issue 8

By James Kemmy (News Editor)

Hello and welcome back to all,

While many are probably now becoming ensconced back into college life, I’m sure there are also some struck by a second semester-induced existential crisis. Myself included. This will be the case particularly so for those of us nearing our final university days and feeling powerless as a major life chapter accelerates to a close.

Adding to such ontological woe, it doesn’t help that January has made us endure such bleakness. A long and cold month with constant pressures placed upon us over how we should be bettering ourselves because of an inevitable turning of the annual calendar, it can make us feel a bit crap at times.

In our modern and hyper-commodified society, it’s easy for young people and recent graduates to feel overwhelmed. In one way, we have an abundance of choice and prospects when it comes to career paths- perhaps too much choice. But in other ways, despite our qualifications and bright aspirations, we can end up becoming very precariously situated in the economy. Living in a country with a shoddy, half-formed public services sector, especially with an abysmal housing situation, it’s no wonder that so many of us up and leave to seek a better deal, further bulking up the Irish diaspora.

Despite this, it’s crucial to maintain hope and reassurance. We have emerged intact from a global pandemic that curtailed and diminished our university experiences. Political and social change will come if we advocate for it strongly enough. Our life trajectories do not have to be as linear and clearcut as tradition would have it. It’s really only the start. So ultimately, show yourself some compassion and trust the process. Happy reading and make the most out of this semester.