When a student attends Vanderbilt, he or she is guaranteed many great things: a well-rounded education, new friendships, fantastic extracurricular activities, and an overall great four years. However, one of the drawbacks of going to a top tier school like Vandy is the stress of being in such an overbearingly competitive environment. Most of the people that go to these schools are driven, hardworking people. And while these are beneficial qualities for someone to have, when you put a bunch of people like that together, it can be a recipe for disaster. 

Everyone here wants to get the A, be the president of the honor council, and still be able to go out and have fun on the weekends. We are the overachievers, perfectionists, and do-gooders, and sometimes we compromise important things, like our physical and mental health, to get everything done. 

Around campus, people pride themselves on missing nights of sleep to stay up doing homework. They brag about not having enough time to eat because they have three meetings they need to attend. We silently, yet harshly, punish ourselves when we do not get the grade we desire on an assignment. 

By sophomore year, students are already stressing about finding internships and jobs, because everyone else is also trying to get the same things. Therefore, students in this kind of environment need to take a step back every once in a while and revaluate what is important.  

We should make sure we get a full (or close to, anyways) eight hours of sleep a night and make time for meals and friends. One way we can do this is to not put too much on our plates. Find a healthy balance. Maybe, you do not need to be on four different club boards. Instead, pick one you are really passionate about and devote your time to it. 

Also, remember, not everyone can get an A every time, so as long as you are doing your best, don’t stress. Next time you feel the on the verge of a mental break down, think of the grand scheme of things. You got into a great school like Vanderbilt, which means you have exceptional personal skills, you are intelligent, and you have a bright future ahead of you. Think about what your life will be like ten years from now. Going to a top twenty university pretty much guarantees you a quality job. 

Most importantly, make sure to take time to do things that make you happy, whether it be going to the movies, reading a book for pleasure, or taking a well-deserved nap.  I know I am guilty of all of these things, too. I have been known to repeatedly kick myself over a B- or freak out about having to craft the perfect resume. However, we need to be proactive in trying to change this kind of unhealthy lifestyle, because when we look back on our college experience we are not going to remember the grades we received, but we will remember the memories we have made.