On a typical afternoon at Mount Kigali University, the campus is alive with conversation and laughter. Yet, just as common as the lively groups are students sitting quietly with their eyes glued to their screens, sharing, scrolling, and double-tapping. Social media has become a defining part of student life, shaping not only how we communicate but also how we think about ourselves.
Everyone on campus knows Raissa. Her Instagram stories are always bright and full of life: coffee dates, perfectly captioned library selfies, and group study sessions that look more like hangouts than late-night academic struggles. To the outside world, she seems like someone who has mastered the balance between work and fun. But behind the filter is a different story.
When I sat with Raissa for this piece, she opened up about what the camera doesn’t show. She battles anxiety every day, all while trying to keep up with assignments and issues at home. Posting helps her distract herself from the chaos, she said. It makes me feel like I’m connected, even if I’m just sitting alone trying to breathe through stress. There is pressure to look like you are doing well, even when you are not.
Her story is not unique. Many students admit that social media sometimes builds unrealistic expectations. Moses, a second-year student, said that seeing his friends post internships and achievements makes him feel like he is lagging. You start to think you are the only one still figuring things out, he said quietly. But then in real life, most of us are just as confused as the next person.
Others recognize both the good and the bad. Lycée, who often scrolls during study breaks, said she tries not to take posts too seriously because a picture can never show the full story. Everyone only shows the good stuff, she told me. You would never know someone cried before taking that perfect smiling photo.
Some students try to take control of their digital habits. Keza mentioned deleting her social media apps during finals so she could concentrate. She felt more focused, but the fear of missing out lingered. When friends talked about things she never saw, she still wondered what she might have missed.
Even though social media keeps us connected, it can also make us feel alone. Studies among university students show that those who frequently compare themselves to others online are more likely to feel anxious or dissatisfied with their own lives. And on a campus where almost everyone is online, it is easy for those hidden struggles to go unnoticed.
Raissa’s story, along with the voices of other students, is a reminder that real life doesn’t always match what we post. The smiling photos, the colorful highlights, and the perfect filters only reveal one small piece of the full picture. Behind every screen is a student balancing dreams with stress, ambition with fear, and hope with the pressures of daily life.
It is okay to have days that never make it online. That is part of the real story of campus life: imperfect, messy, and human.
