We’ve all experienced an adjustment period in our lifetimes, and the need to readjust continually arises. For some, it’s a daily feeling, while for others, it creeps up unexpectedly. No matter how settled we think we are, life continues to demand adaptation. College especially amplifies this as every semester brings new classes, new professors and new expectations. Each shift forces us to rethink our routines, challenge our ways of learning and step into the unfamiliar.

It’s not without effort that one comes to terms with oneself and the way one lives. Life is complex and ever-changing, so it is up to us to ask better questions — questions that push us toward a deeper, more fulfilling existence. 

Philosophers approach the world similarly: They take an idea, question it and allow their thoughts to connect in once-inconceivable ways.

There’s no way for every person to think philosophically about every situation placed in front of them, but everyone does have the capacity to engage with their lives as a critical thinker. Theory allows the mind to consider what it has never encountered before. While the practice is often associated with science, theorizing extends well beyond it — theorizing is a mechanism for questioning and for breaking through rigid structures of thought.

According to bell hooks, a feminist theorist and writer known for her work on race, gender and class, theory is a powerful tool that shapes an individual’s ability to heal in opposition to systems that thrive on the suffering of the mind. To her, theory alleviates the deep wounds of oppression while providing a space to explore new possibilities of freedom. In her article “Theory as Liberatory Practice,” she places theory as a force that pushes toward change.

This framing elevates theory beyond thought alone, positioning it as something purposeful. But in truth, theory is an action — an act of thought that generates possibility.

Theory goes far beyond an idea. For as long as I can remember, theory has been a close friend of mine, a space where I can explore, question and unravel the structures that shape the world. Yet, I have felt restricted for much of my life, bound by external forces like school and society, which seemed to demand fixed answers rather than curiosity.

Theory can be a healing practice, but it is also much more complicated than that. Theorizing is hard — it breaks your brain, holds you down and forces you to wrestle with intricate ideas until you find your way through. Yet the answers it leads you to will always be uniquely yours, shaped by your struggles and ways of seeing the world.

Theory offers an opportunity for progression, not just in the world but within the self. It reshapes reality by expanding how we understand it. Therefore, it is best practiced in minds and spaces one has never found oneself; college and early adulthood seem to be the perfect grounds for thinking.

However, stepping beyond the boundaries of what is known opens new possibilities. Leaving home and entering a space that embraces uncertainty allows for a deeper engagement with thought. It is in this openness that true intellectual and personal growth take shape. 

The social landscape is constantly shifting. Meeting new people, attending events and navigating different social circles can be overwhelming. Feeling the need to rearrange ourselves never fully stops since life is a cycle of discomfort and growth. But from these moments of uncertainty, we expand our understanding of ourselves and the world, learning not just how to adapt but also how to thrive in the unknown.

When I first began attending university, I felt pinballed by so many new things. I never truly felt seen. I navigated new obstacles without a clear sense of direction. It was disorienting and often isolating. But as I began speaking to professors and picking up more books, I made an effort to immerse myself in new ways of thinking and perspectives that challenged what I had always considered to be the norm. 

Practicing critical thinking is fully introspective. It allows for time to be spent with yourself in a way that moves beyond physical efforts. You could sit under a tree and wonder whether or not your current values hold good standing. Maybe you feel easily swayed by opinions, but theorizing should allow you to navigate through what holds true in your mind versus what someone wants you to believe.  

When you practice critical thought, you become liberated from everything that once defined you. You discover that identity is not fixed but fluid, constantly shaped by new experiences and ideas. This is important because it reminds us that we are ever-changing and not to be defined, which is necessary knowledge not just in the so-called “volitional years” but also throughout life.

Theory is not just something that defines a scientist’s effort toward discovery but a process of speculation. It is the pressure to bring something into existence while recognizing the lack of space for the new in such structured circumstances. Critical thinking provides a perspective on the world that is not conventional but nonetheless valuable.

So, ask yourself: When was the last time you truly sat with an idea and let it change you? When did you last step into discomfort and allow it to reshape your understanding? Engage with the questions that unsettle you. Let theory be more than an abstract concept — let it be the practice that challenges, liberates and ultimately transforms you.