Everybody has their own toxic traits and being able to recognize those traits is what matters most. Self-awareness is something we all claim to value, until it involves admitting the habits we know are not exactly helping us.
The truth is, most college students have at least a few questionable tendencies, and chances are your “toxic trait” looks a lot like someone else’s. So in the spirit of honesty, here are a few of mine.
My first toxic trait, and probably the hardest one to admit, is that I have always scheduled my classes around my job. Up until the beginning of the spring 2026 semester, my priority was not “What classes do I need?” but “What classes fit around my work schedule?” Was that the smartest academic decision? Definitely not. Do I regret it? A little. But at the same time, working is a necessity, and I like having money.
This semester, though, I started a new job that is much more flexible, which finally allowed me to build a schedule around school first. It only took a few years, but we got here.
Another toxic trait I have developed this semester is obsessively checking my grades. The second I get a notification that something has been graded, I am immediately on Canvas refreshing the page. Over and over again. It is a little intense, but in my defense, I am graduating in December 2026, and there is absolutely no room for slipping up now.
For the first time ever, I have all A’s, and at this point, it feels less like school and more like a personal competition to keep them. Healthy? Maybe not. Motivating? Definitely.
My next toxic trait is one that oddly feels productive: logging into Canvas first thing Monday morning and completing all my assignments in one sitting. This is also a new habit for me, and I am still not entirely sure what triggered it. Is it senoritis in a weird, backwards form? Possibly. Do I wish I had taken college this seriously the past three years? Absolutely. But for now, I am rolling with it. Knocking everything out early has surprisingly kept me organized and, honestly, probably made my professors’ lives easier too.
Now for the one I am not exactly proud of. When I can not find parking on campus, I call UNK Parking. Yes, I am that person. In my mind, if I am paying for a parking permit, I should be guaranteed a spot.
There was one day this semester when I could not find a single space, and it turned out campus visitors had been allowed to park in commuter lots. That did not sit right with me. So I called, voiced my frustration, and they ended up sending an officer to check permits. Was it dramatic? Maybe. But in the moment, it felt justified.
I could probably keep going, but these are my top toxic traits for now. If you relate to any of them, you are either a senior trying to survive or a normal college student doing your best. Either way, at least we are self-aware about it.
