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St. Cloud State University
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Commentary
College students strongest of all
By Britt Johnsen
Published:
Monday, October 28, 2002
Britt Johnsen -- Staff Essay
It's that dreaded time of the semester: midterms.
So it's the middle of the semester, and as I re-examine my life to remind myself how not to go insane during the busy times of working, going to school and being an editor here at the University Chronicle, I have to remember that college students are among the strongest people.
Really, we ought to be proud of ourselves. Of course, every person's life is different. But many of the people I know didn't have the lives they had in high school, nor will they have the lives they have now when they are older; they are in the prime of stress, compact schedules and dealing with many different social situations.
Classes are tough. Most professors demand work from students that challenge mental capacity, sleep deprivation and patience. Come mid-semester, many students have never before experienced such a longing for naps, proper nutrition (it's hard to attain sustenance while devoting all attention towards a paper or studying for an exam) and the luxury of boredom.
Those involved in extracurricular activities, such as campus organizations, sports, clubs, fraternities or the University Chronicle, know exactly what I mean when words of "busy," "tired" and "stressed" are uttered.
Many organizations are rather demanding, or seem to be when one is involved with a number of them. Yet these organizations are often mandatory for one's resume, social life or mental health. And by mental health I mean that when people are lethargic and bored, but constantly surrounded by opportunities that they pass up, self-worth often begins to be doubted. Organizations can be very rewarding and almost addictive. Or maybe it's just me.
Either way, I know that most students know what I'm talking about when I speak of working while going to school. Work is always demanding, and sometimes rewarding, especially when it comes to that luscious, long-awaited paycheck.
Without money for a place to live, food and fun, we could not be college students. Most of us need jobs to get that money, and it's hard to attain while trying to keep a decent grade point average and get the education for which we are working so hard.
And then there's the inevitable, typical aspect of college life (and life in general): social life. Of course, one should have their priorities straight, but social life usually isn't excluded in a common list of priorities.
Many people often take time out of their busy college lives to make sure they get their dose of social satisfaction. Whether that means heading down to the bars to get completely inebriated or going to the coffee shop to catch up with an old friend, most people make sure that during their busy lives, they have friends to support them for their ups and downs.
Of course it's therapeutic and fun, but sometimes when there gets to be a variety of friends who want you at a variety of places, it's difficult to cater to every person and go to every fun event. It's especially challenging when those tempting events try to drag you from your academia and tempt you to stay out late, instead of getting some sleep for work the next morning.
Whether the majority can relate to all of the above or none of the above, it's pretty safe to say that many of us experience a combination of the aforementioned aspects of college life.
It's not a complaint by any means; I wouldn't trade my life for anything. Being stressed out and busy is tough, and on some occasions, life can get to be too busy. But for the most part, we should just remind ourselves that we are the strongest of many individuals out there. There are others busier and other more stressed out; but we should not be forgotten amongst all the strong, independent, resilient and tolerant individuals in the world.
