“Not all those who wander are lost.” This line from a poem in J.R.R. Tolkien’s “The Lord of the Rings” has become more and more popular, almost to the point of becoming a trite expression. It is used to express a feeling or state of wanderlust.
This wanderlust in turn is used to identify the urge to travel, sometimes without knowing exactly where you are headed.
Another more figurative use for the term and the quote as well is when you are not quite sure what direction your life is going. This type of wanderlust is prevalent on college campuses.
From freshman to senior year and even in post-graduate endeavors it can be quite common to not have your future plans set in stone. For some, the unknown future can be a thrill. You may wander from major to major, friend group to friend group or even school to school without feeling lost.
This wandering is, thankfully, becoming more of a social norm. You do not have to have all the answers just yet, and it is okay to figure things out on a trial and error basis. While it may be accepted, wandering has a darker twin – Lost.
Lost is a genuine emotion, and not a fun one to deal with. You can try to sweep it under the rug or shrug it off and call it wandering, but for some this emotion keeps creeping back. Students may find themselves identifying as lost and not simply as those who wander. The key is to identify this emotion and to seek help.
Think of this when you are actually traveling. You may wander until you find yourself actually lost, perhaps on the wrong side of town or so far away from where you started that you don’t know how to get back. Your instinct would be to get help, consulting MapQuest, Siri or even calling dear old dad. This holds true for when you are feeling lost in your personal life.
You may feel lost academically or career-wise. Career Services, academic advisors or even faculty that you trust and feel comfortable with are all avenues in which to seek help. Like MapQuest, they have tools to help you find your bearings and orient yourself in the right direction.
You may feel lost emotionally. Counseling services through the school or the religious affiliation of your choice are also here to help. Like Siri or your dad, they are places you can ask questions and seek answers.
Also, speaking of dad, never feel ashamed to call your parents or another adult figure with which you have a strong bond and let them know if you are struggling. They are not only there for support but may have experienced a similar situation and can provide you with helpful insight.
Not all those who wander are lost, but those who are lost don’t have to be lost forever.
Information pertaining to career services can be found at http://career.olemiss.edu/
Information pertaining to the Counseling Center can be found at http://www.olemiss.edu/counseling/
Anna Rush is a law student from Hattiesburg. She graduated from Mississippi State University in 2011.
