SHE SAID… Confidence: too much of a good thing?

I’ve lived at Fairfield long enough to know that confidence is the most prevalent quality among students here. Students ranging from freshmen to seniors walk with their heads way up in the clouds, all with a strut. Not only do FU students appear confident, but it blatantly comes across in their conversations and actions. Now, confidence is clearly a virtue, but come on, so is modesty. Unfortunately, it is to the extreme here on campus, becoming obnoxious.

My mother always taught me to be confident. “If you think you’re great, everyone else will too.” I never thought much of what she said, but she was right. For example, apply that concept to Fairfield. We can easily think of people that are revered simply because they are so unbelievably high on themselves, whether it be in terms of looks, brains, or being popular. So many students here fall into the categories of “too pretty,” “too smart,” and “too cool,” and even more buy into it.

I can’t say I’ve never fallen for it. I’ll admit that I am naturally attracted to super-confident guys that border on cocky. Also, why appear weak? I make an effort to have good posture. I know I’ve been proud of myself before, and who hasn’t? But I know that being too confident is ridiculous. Think about it logically. We are all huge fish in this tiny sea, and should realize that one seemingly-innocent swim outside of it will really put us in our places. Think about the transition from high school to college. Also, think about another time when you were forced to be completely independent, such as a new job or a trip abroad. Our feelings in those types of situations may be easy to forget, but try not to-it’s important to be grounded.

For example, as much as my mom wanted me to be confident, she also kept me extremely modest. Her favorite line was, “No matter how good you are at something, there will be someone better at it.” Again, she’s right. We should all just listen to our moms-except, of course, they always taught that you really were the best.

But seriously, thinking that we are the best-looking, smartest, or coolest people around is just absurd. Like anything, the virtue of confidence can be an asset, but can also be disgusting when to the absolute extreme. Possess it, but never exist on it.