In my everyday life, I play many different roles, but currently, the most prominent one is the role of a student. This role is primarily for me because the majority of people whom I communicate with observe me as such. A college in itself is a place where people are expressing distinct roles and act according to this setting, or shared reality (OpenStax 86). Every person at this stage has a determining role they are expected to play.
As a student, I am expected to complete many tasks in a short amount of time and behave in a specific manner. This includes being polite and respectful to others by their status in the educational facility, as well as being prepared for the tasks, being attentive, and on time. While in college with many people around, especially if there are any professors present, I feel obligated to stay at my best behavior. However, the situation differs when there are only students around, as there is a different kind of pressure in the company of equals. Cooley states that “we imagine how we look to others, draw conclusions based upon their reactions to us” (qtd. in OpenStax 87). Since I am expected to behave differently in front of these two hierarchical groups, I act the way I want that group of people to think of me.
I perceive my status as a college student as something that I have achieved. I believe many other students follow the same trail of thoughts, and I regard them as equals in this setting. A student can have many various responsibilities, duties, and behaviors to follow in a college and outside of it, and can experience role strain. I experience role strain during my study when multiple overlaying duties accumulate and overlap with my other roles. Role strain is especially prominent during exams, however, it is still manageable.
Work Cited
OpenStax. Introduction to Sociology. 2nd ed., Rice University, 2017.