During this time of year, one of the common refrains heard on college campuses is how "stressed" students are. For those familiar with this blog, you can guess that I don't have much sympathy.
On one hand, I get it. I remember feeling a certain amount of pressure when getting in those final projects, studying for those last tests, and scrambling to write those term papers. But I lacked the same thing all young people lack: perspective. What I didn't know then, and what I tell all my students now, is this:
You will never have more free time and less stress in your life than you do right now (until you retire, and even that is a big maybe.)
Just wait until you have insurance bills to pay, a mortgage due each month, a boss you don't like breathing down your neck, your kids are sick, your spouse is frustrating you, and the government crawls up your backside demanding taxes. And that's not just during finals week--that could be some random Tuesday.
Trust me, you'll be begging for the days when you just had some homework to do, some books to read, and some teachers to call on you in class expecting a moderately coherent answer. You don't know what real stress is yet.
Being stressed is also a sign that what you're doing is probably worthwhile. After all, if it didn't matter, there'd be no use getting worked up about it. Turn that into a positive. Think to yourself, "I'm so glad I get to do something that will shape my future. I look forward to any challenge my teachers throw at me." That is a much more productive way to finish the semester than complaining to everyone about an anxiety disorder you've diagnosed for yourself or yearning to pet puppies between exams.
Learn to embrace stress--it's not going anywhere. And keep this in mind: there are millions of people in third-world countries that would give their lives to experience the type of "stress" you are going through. Suck it up. Be tough. Start becoming an adult. Because real adulthood won't provide you with puppies.
On one hand, I get it. I remember feeling a certain amount of pressure when getting in those final projects, studying for those last tests, and scrambling to write those term papers. But I lacked the same thing all young people lack: perspective. What I didn't know then, and what I tell all my students now, is this:
You will never have more free time and less stress in your life than you do right now (until you retire, and even that is a big maybe.)
Just wait until you have insurance bills to pay, a mortgage due each month, a boss you don't like breathing down your neck, your kids are sick, your spouse is frustrating you, and the government crawls up your backside demanding taxes. And that's not just during finals week--that could be some random Tuesday.
Trust me, you'll be begging for the days when you just had some homework to do, some books to read, and some teachers to call on you in class expecting a moderately coherent answer. You don't know what real stress is yet.
Being stressed is also a sign that what you're doing is probably worthwhile. After all, if it didn't matter, there'd be no use getting worked up about it. Turn that into a positive. Think to yourself, "I'm so glad I get to do something that will shape my future. I look forward to any challenge my teachers throw at me." That is a much more productive way to finish the semester than complaining to everyone about an anxiety disorder you've diagnosed for yourself or yearning to pet puppies between exams.
Learn to embrace stress--it's not going anywhere. And keep this in mind: there are millions of people in third-world countries that would give their lives to experience the type of "stress" you are going through. Suck it up. Be tough. Start becoming an adult. Because real adulthood won't provide you with puppies.