Every time I encounter someone during my day I ask them how they are doing. This is a common greeting that many people use every day and often we simply give a generic response. I genuinely hope that everyone I interact with is doing well,which is why I ask, so that I will know whether or not things are going well for them. This semester more than ever, I have found that the response to my question is "tired... but good." I have come to the realization that EVERY single person in college is tired. Friends, I'll admit it... I am tired too.
We strive to get involved on campus because we've been told that in order to be a balanced student that's what we must do. We take on double majors, add minors and pursue extra credit because we've been told that in order to achieve our goals, we must shoot for the stars academically. We take on community service because we need to give back and we have been told that it's important to care for our community. I will be the first person to encourage others to do any of the three things I have just talked about (with in reason of course). I also acknowledge that these are the things we take on that make us all so tired. I have tried to take a different approach in my personal life this semester which is having a purpose behind the things I sign up for. I believe that if I can remember the "why" behind every activity I take on, I won't feel like telling others that I'm tired because all of my involvement has meaning in my personal life.
I recently pursued additional on campus involvement opportunities as a Student Government Association Senator and as a writer for my school newspaper. Before fully committing to these activities, I considered why I really wanted to do them. I wanted to join SGA because I have had an interest in student government since middle school. I wanted to be a part of SGA so that I could be a voice for the constituents I am now proud to represent. I heard about the opportunity to write Features for The Carolinian through a friend and I thought it would be a good way to develop my writing skills and contribute to a really wonderful product. Just because I have a couple extra things to do during the week now does not mean that I am exhausted or huffy and puffy because I didn't sleep enough. In fact, I have begun managing my time more effectively. I am continuing to develop my ability to plan and execute tasks in the most efficient way possible. As a bonus, I am making many more friends, which I love.
The next time someone asks you how you're doing, what will you say to them? If you're a single parent with children and a full time job, I am sure you'll say that you're tired, which is understandable. But if you're a college student, what will you say? I hope that you'll say that you're doing well because you had the opportunity to go to one of your favorite classes today despite the bad pop quiz grade you got back. I hope that you'll say you're great because you are walking around and breathing on the college campus of your dreams. I hope you'll say that you're fantastic just for the heck of it, because your positive energy might brighten the day of someone who feels like they're having the worst day of their semester. I hope you will remember your "why."