College students aren’t strangers to fear. And it turns out, many college students are fearful of the same things.
Sometimes fear creeps in as students worry about failure. Other times, it can be a fear of feedback, rejection, or feeling like an imposter.
Darryl Bellamy Jr., a motivational speaker and a self-proclaimed expert on fear in college students, reassured a group of St. Joseph’s College student leaders that they are experiencing similar emotions during a recent virtual common hour event. 
“When I’m going through those fears, I remember that there is someone else going through that, or has processed that, before and therefore I am not alone,” said Bellamy, while donning a black sweatshirt with the word “fearless” written in bold letters.
Bellamy, who lives in Charlotte, North Carolina, explained that every time he speaks to college students about fear they share many of the same anxieties and doubts. The fear of not being good enough, of not belonging, or accidentally saying something embarrassing.
Throughout Bellamy’s high-energy presentation, he shared some advice for staying fearless, including talking to friends who make you happy, prioritizing exercise and reading positive stories and listening to inspirational podcasts.
“Here’s what I believe: everything that you want is at the opposite side of fear,” Bellamy said. “We all hear those voices when we’re by ourselves, or about to lead, or about to step up, when we’re talking to our friends and family.
“But at the end of the day, it’s not the fears that are going to stop you,” he continued. “It’s what you do with those fears coming in that’s going to get you to that next level.”
