Hey you, yeah you! I’m talking to you my fellow colleague. I know you’re either doing one of two things:

1) Stressing over an exam and spending your nights at Moody with way more caffeine than you need.

2) Procrastinating by convincing yourself that the 11 straight episodes on Netflix you’ve watched is just a “study break.”

Either way, listen up. I’ve got a few choice words for you.

It's that time of the year, with test weeks rolling by and stress-induced comas commencing over campus. College is a constant battleground of testing your patience and balancing your responsibilities. I completely understand the world of caffeine overdoses, sleep deprivation, and nauseating stress.

I’m a sophomore this year, which means I should have the hang of things whether it’s remembering to do laundry more than once a month or studying for four exams in one week. But plot twist, I still have no idea what I’m doing. But even bigger plot twist: it’s okay.

Life is rough; heck, college is a nightmare (for most of the academic time). Deadlines and exams and quizzes and essays and plenty of material you are 98% sure you will never use in the future.

With all of these things piling up – laundry and homework and exams and sanity – it is more than likely that you will falter a few times. With these falters might come a sense of self-doubt and failure, and you might even want to give up.

Now you stop right there. Go to H-E-B, buy some ice cream, and eat it while you cry over your less than satisfactory test grade or essay feedback. Now you may only do this for one night and one night only, but it is vital you get it out of your system.

Are you good now? Have you finished the whole pint of ice cream? Great. Now get up, take a shower, eat some queso and work on you.

The world will throw things at you and as hard as you try to dodge them, sometimes it’ll become an obstacle you just have to overcome. Instead of sulking in the hardships and troubles, hurdle your way through life and remember how strong you truly are.

I was recently inspired by a dear friend’s story behind her tattoo. She has a tiny arrow tattooed on her left rib cage, and when asked what it meant, her reasoning left me in awe.

“Think of a bow and arrow. When you pull back the arrow, the arrow will only result in travelling forward and further. It’s a lot like life. When life pulls you back, know it is only to project you into something so much better in the future.”

She told me this, and I was inspired that such a small tattoo could hold such great magnitude. Her arrow taught me to remind myself daily that I too, am just an arrow in this world waiting to be projected into something amazing.

So my fellow college students, remember who you are and what your calling is. Trust in God and His plan for you. Have faith in your abilities as a student, and believe in the beauty of setbacks.

You are so much more than a bad exam grade or missed deadline. You are you, and you are worthy of grace and love and forgiveness. You are a part of something so much bigger than yourself, and that is your purpose on this world.

Take it one day at a time, because believe me, stressing for the future will only result in more crying over ice cream and less productivity. Take a deep breath, look up at the big man upstairs, smile, and thank Him for your blessings.

Every setback is just God’s way of telling you to stop right there because He has something so much greater planned for you. So please, don’t you ever give up on yourself.

I believe in you. Now believe in yourself, because that’s half the battle. God has a plan for you, trust in your faith and remember how amazing you are. College is tough, but you are tougher.

“Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.” – Joshua 1:9

Love,

Your Friendly Neighborhood Stress Ball