The choice of opting out
By Norah Lubeck
High school can feel like a battle between FOMO and JOMO. But one choice is definitely better than the other.
As an introvert, I struggled with balancing being with people and taking time for myself in the early days of high school. I felt pressure to say yes and make plans, even if I didn’t want to.
I often remind myself that I have to live with myself longer than anyone else. When I began focusing less on what people around me are doing, I found what actually brings me joy.
The time I spent reading, learning to play guitar, or testing out new recipes felt more fulfilling than going out just to keep up. The more I took for myself, the less I cared about what other people were doing.
There’s nothing wrong with saying no or choosing to focus on yourself for a while. In fact, you may even find that focusing on yourself and being comfortable with the idea of “missing out” brings you growth. For me, I found a sense of satisfaction from a new level of independence and exploration of hobbies.
FOMO will drain you, but it’s a manageable and even avoidable feeling. Once you recognize you’re not missing out–you’re simply choosing a different path, FOMO loses its grip. Solitude doesn’t need to be negative. Choosing JOMO over FOMO changed how I think about being alone.
Sometimes showing up matters more than sitting out
By Saeed Lobbad
FOMO doesn’t just mean being fearful of missing out or excessively checking on social media. I believe that everyone needs to have a break now and then, rather than being by themselves most of the time.
Texting my friends to go out to events like cookout meetups after games, late nights at Waffle House, going to cars and coffee with my friends, hanging out with them at their house. Experiences like these are not only beneficial for my mental health but I also feel better actually doing them rather than being by myself.
I also use my camcorder to make vlogs about my trips, take more photos with my friends, and most importantly, just be in the moment and live life. That’s what I want, especially since it’s my senior year.
I would still agree that it is good to have time for myself, to focus on my passions like working on my car, video editing, doing school work and spending time with family. But sometimes, I just think that everyone has that moment during their high school years when they feel as if they are missing out on a lot of different opportunities.
JOMO will make you become more lonely. Even though I am working on my own passions by myself, that doesn’t mean that I can’t take a break from it. FOMO doesn’t mean I can’t be an independent person nor does it mean that I am obsessive upon social media influence.
