The Illusion of Being ’Put Together’

Nadah Fathima

I’m sure most of us have watched (or at least heard of ) The Devil Wears Prada. And yes, I know we’re all med students here, but Anne Hathaway’s character hits a little too close to home. There’s that version of her before the glow-up: tired, uncertain, slightly out of sync with the world. The one who keeps trying to prove she belongs. I see her every time I’m running late to a 9 a.m. class with caffeine as my only personality trait. When exactly does our big movie montage happen? Because I’ve been waiting for my background music to kick in.

Wednesdays are my personal nemesis. That’s the day my 9 a.m. feels like a punishment. To survive, I made a heroic plan: stop by Dunkin’ for an iced coffee, pretend I’m thriving, maybe even review some notes like a functioning adult. Except, plot twist, halfway through rereading my material, I managed to baptize the entire floor with my coffee. The employees looked one minor inconvenience away from quitting on the spot. I wanted to evaporate right there between the napkin dispenser and my dignity. Pretty sure my soul left my body, took one look at the spill, and said, “You’re on your own.”

At that point, I was convinced my day was ruined. But then I walked into class and realized everyone else looked equally exhausted, just better at hiding it. That’s when it hit me: we’re all living the same Wednesday, just pretending ours is prettier.

We’re all living in that weird in-between, the era where everyone looks put together. Everyone’s got their vibe: playlists that make them sound deep, study tables that look Pinterest-certified, “academic weapon” energy in full display. And don’t even get me started on the social media reels and those perfectly worded LinkedIn bios that scream “I’ve got it all under control.” It’s like we’re all competing in a silent race to look functional.

Everyone’s acting like life is a group project and they’re the only one who didn’t get the memo.

But the truth? That illusion cracks easily. Behind every “productive day” post, there’s someone on the edge of burnout. Behind every casual smile, there’s a 2 a.m. spiral. Sometimes it all falls apart over something stupid — a low grade, a text left on read, or a spilled Dunkin’ coffee that becomes a metaphor for your entire semester. We chase the image of composure like it’s proof that we’re doing life right.

Maybe the people who look lost aren’t failing. Maybe they’re just being honest.

Maybe “being put together” was never the point. Maybe life’s about constantly reassembling yourself; every morning, every semester, every time you crash and crawl back up. Because someday, the spilled coffee becomes just another story; proof that even when everything hits the floor, you still showed up for class anyway.

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Nadah Fathima