College is a time and place for growing and learning. You grow by taking on new responsibilities and being in control of your own future. You learn by meeting people, going to class and absorbing information.
Cal State Long Beach offers various extracurricular activities. There’s the Greek system, student clubs and organizations, student government positions, and the list goes on. CSULB offers life outside of classes. It attempts to create somewhat of a community for students to associate with.
Within this community of students, you’ll meet people, and these people — if you let them — will teach you something. And sometimes, they’ll teach you more substantial lessons than you’ll learn in class.
The fact is that in college, no matter where you turn — inside or outside of your classes — there is some sort of information or knowledge you can take with you. However, this is only possible if you keep yourself leveled, stable and sane.
One thing is for sure: college — or more appropriately, adulthood — will bring you stress, whether it’s school-related or not. And the biggest mistake you can make when finding yourself in any stressful situation is to surrender to it and allow it to consume you.
Whether we believe it or not, we’re smart people, especially when it comes to knowing ourselves. When an assignment or a fight with a friend of significant other makes us lose our cool, we can recognize it, and we recognize it ASAP.
The best thing you can do about the stress you come across inside or outside of school is listen to yourself. Remember who you are and listen to what your body and mind want. If it’s sleep, put your assignment aside and take a 30-minute nap — it’s proven that shorter naps are better than longer ones, after all. If it’s food, ignore your dietary plan and eat a healthy snack.
The point is, you know yourself better than anyone else knows you. Only you know what you want and need, and only you can give yourself that. That’s the only way you will truly be satisfied and happy.
It truly is a crazy world out there, with all different and amazing people. And no matter who you are, your problems will only get more and more gut wrenching as you get older. You’ll deal with academic problems, financial problems, relationship problems, health problems, and the only way you’ll be able to get through them is by maintaining your mental stability. And the only way to maintain your mental stability is by knowing yourself and your needs.
Even more, keep your friends and family close. We are our backbone, but our friends and family are our balance. You’ll be surprised how many people will love and care for you when you need it the most. Remember that the moment you allow any problem to consume you, is the moment you are blind to the world and everyone around you.
These are hard times. They’re hard times for the U.S., higher education, the Eastern world. These are hard times for so many people, but it’s like I’ve heard before; the clock keeps ticking. There’s no pause button to life. Don’t let anything hold you back. Smile and keep moving forward.
Sonia Guillen is a senior journalism student and opinions editor for the Daily 49er.
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