"The best version of you does not exist, it is an illusion"

Challenges student life brings and how to overcome them
- Interview with Lana Nikolić

If we spend too much time on social media which is often the case, our self-confidence decreases, whether it is because of a picture of someone’s straight As, a video of pristinely clean apartments, hours-long study sessions etc. Even though we are aware that it is staged and that our value is not only made up of grades, this kind of content makes us feel  less successful.

We talked about these topics with Lana Nikolić, a journalist and activist who, on her Instagram profile @lanushhh, advocates for the availability of knowledge, as well as selfcare and tenderness towards oneself in an unrealistic digital world.

How to use social networks in the right way, ie. not fall under their influence?
 
"It seems to me that when I was getting my bachelor’s and master's ten years ago social networks were less present - there were not yet so many smartphones and the access to the Internet was not available nor were there apps that made us spend longer periods of time on them. What I can say, from my experience, is that nowadays I sometimes spend more time on social media than I would want to, but I try to moderate the usage according to need, so that it is not mindless, but with a purpose and in a healthy amount, which is something I would recommend to everyone, however, it is a big challenge . Even though social media has great potential, it is important that we use it to change things for the better and that we pay close attention to how we feel while we use them, so that we can take a break in time if we need one.

It's okay to find yourself in different life stages that don't always look and feel positive, during which we are in the process of learning and getting to know ourselves, others, and our place in the world. We should give ourselves space and avoid comparing ourselves to others, because everyone is doing their best.
 
The best version of you does not exist, it is a complete illusion, all we can do is try to act ev towards the good and beautiful for ourselves and for society every day.
 
Our role is to discover our potentials and give them time to blossom, and it would be ideal if we could also look forward to other people's potentials and support them whenever we can, as far as the circumstances allow us to.”
 
How to deal with academic burnout and deadlines while studying? How to get rid of nervousness before the exam?
 
"I am looking for an answer to these questions myself, and for now I only have one - take it step by step, day by day. The search for knowledge is full of challenges and can be difficult, in those moments I believe it is best to seek the help of an expert such as a psychologist if it is a question of mental health, but of course, in relation to the material and professors, colleagues.
 
The most important thing is to have understanding for yourself and your processes, not to compare yourself with others and ask for support when we need it.
 
You learn a lot at university, but you’ll have time to improve your knowledge later. What I would like to say instead of fearing exams that we haven’t prepared ourselves enough for, we should instead cultivate curiosity towards knowledge and approach learning new things with joy. Acquiring knowledge is a really special process, it would be wonderful to give ourselves space and  be creative when we dedicate ourselves to it, as much as possible".
 
As exam dates are approaching, don't forget to take care of yourself, set realistic goals, take breaks and don't be afraid to ask for help. Good luck in the exam period!

Author:

Sofija Djuric