I’m Not Lazy, I Just Didn’t Give Myself Room to Try

Many students focus on just grades. As long as the GPA is safe and graduation is on track, it feels like enough. Yet there’s another aspect that’s just as important but easy to underestimate—experiences that open up new ways of thinking.

The "kupu-kupu" student phenomenon (an Indonesian acronym for kuliah-pulang, kuliah-pulang—essentially, "class-home, class-home") is very common. The schedule is simpler, there are fewer distractions, and life feels more controlled. No extra demands and your time feels like your own. At a glance, this seems efficient.

But when your routine becomes too narrow, the space to try new things shrinks along with it.

I have been in that position myself. Academically, everything went smoothly, but outside of class, there was almost zero exploration. I once tried joining a dance club, went once, and then quit. It wasn't because I wasn't interested, but simply because I didn't stick with it. Beyond that, most of my time was spent in my room. The desire to participate in activities was there, but it never truly materialized.

From that experience, I learned that my interests faded because I never gave them the room to exist. I hadn't given myself the space to simply be a beginner.

Creativity Doesn't Emerge from the Same Old Routine

Creativity is often seen as something "possessed" by certain people. In reality, creativity is also shaped by exposure to diverse experiences.

When someone goes through the exact same routine every day, the input they receive is limited. The same environment, minimal interaction, and monotonous activities make it difficult for one’s way of thinking to evolve.

Conversely, trying new things—no matter how small—provides additional perspectives. Meeting new people or stepping into unfamiliar situations can trigger a different way of looking at the world. That is where creativity begins to take shape.

Resources for you: Smart But Stuck

The Biggest Barrier Isn't Ability

Many students actually want to try more things, but that desire often stops at the thought stage. Some common reasons include:

Fear of not being a good fit.
Feeling a lack of confidence.
Not knowing where to start.
Waiting for the "perfect" moment.

All of these are valid. But if you constantly give in to them, the result is the same: no new experiences actually happen. In many cases, the biggest obstacle is the habit of not taking the first step.

The Cost of Not Trying

Not trying doesn't mean you aren't being productive. However, there are consequences that often aren't felt until later. Without exploration:

Your thinking tends to become narrow.
You struggle to adapt to new environments.
You lack confidence when facing different situations.
You have a shallow pool of experiences to draw from as a reference.

These factors matter, especially when you enter the professional world, which demands flexibility and the ability to view problems from various angles.

Making Room for Exploration

The good news is that exploration doesn't have to start with a giant leap. You don't need to dive into everything at once. All you need is to carve out some space to try.

Some simple steps include:

Choose one activity outside of your routine.
Commit to showing up more than once before deciding to quit.
Give yourself time to feel uncomfortable in the beginning.
Focus on the process, not the immediate results.

What matters isn't how many things you participate in, but whether you are making an effort to break away from the same old patterns.

Conclusion

Being a "class-home" student isn't inherently wrong. But if you live that way without awareness, many of your potentials may remain undeveloped.

Creativity doesn't come from good intentions or plans alone. It grows from experience, from trying, and from the courage to step into situations that may not be comfortable. Often, that change begins with one simple decision of giving yourself the opportunity to try.