Ever catch yourself thinking, “I don’t even know how I feel about this…”?
Or maybe you’re in a group setting and someone reacts a certain way, and you’re like, wait—why are they so mad/sad/stressed right now?

If either of those moments feels familiar, you're bumping into a skill called emotional intelligence, or EQ for short. It’s all about being able to recognize, understand, and manage your own emotions and the emotions of people around you.

Now let’s get real: College is one big emotional rollercoaster — new people, new stress, new freedom, new pressure. To navigate all that without totally burning out, EQ isn’t just helpful — it’s essential.

Let me take you back to my freshman year.
Like a lot of people, I ended up in a dorm with a roommate I had never met before. I figured, I’ve got two older brothers. Rooming with a stranger can’t be that different, right?

Wrong. Way different.

With my brothers, we had years of shared chaos — inside jokes, sibling fights, teamwork, all of it. My roommate and I? Total strangers. We didn’t clash or throw stuff at each other, but we didn’t vibe either. And looking back, here’s why:

  1. I wasn’t tuned into my own emotions — I couldn’t name what I was feeling, let alone explain it to someone else.
  2. I made assumptions about how he was feeling instead of asking or observing.
  3. When things got tense, I didn’t have the emotional stamina to step back, breathe, and handle it maturely.

Each of those missteps? Classic signs that I hadn’t worked on my emotional intelligence yet.

But here's the thing: this isn't just about roommates.
 

Whether you're joining a club, pledging Greek life, doing group projects (aka chaos in academic form), or dealing with awkward moments with a professor, EQ is your secret weapon. It helps you communicate better, sense when things are off, resolve conflict with less drama, and figure out whether a situation or social group is actually healthy for you.

Also — let's be honest — it helps you not spiral after one bad convo or ghost someone just because you didn’t know how to handle the tension. Been there.

The earlier you start developing emotional intelligence, the smoother your college experience becomes. And trust me — it’s not about being “perfect” at emotions. It’s about being self-aware, curious, and willing to grow.

Want some real strategies for leveling up your EQ game? I’ve got you covered. Dive deeper in my book — your future self (and your future roommate) will thank you.

https://a.co/d/eHosKey

 

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