We’ve had a total of about two weeks of school, and I’m already about to hit that ’07 Britney Spears breakdown. However, I continue to remind myself, if Britney made it through that year, I’ll make it through this one. Between juggling internship applications, meetings, writing this article, classes, studying, homework, working out (which I have done a total of two times since I’ve gotten here), and maintaining a social life, our time in college can be pretty messy. In the past, I have wasted so much time worrying about the future and worrying about things that are completely out of my control that typically turn out just fine. Yet, I still continue this bad habit of fretting. It seems like I constantly wish for hard times to be over and for me to be in a new place and time. And then it suddenly dawned on me: remember when we were in high school and wished to be in college?
There may be a musical about high school with super attractive characters in it, but let’s face it: high school was anything but our favorite song. I could continue to move back in time forever to all the chapters I wish that would end so I could begin a new one. At one point I think I even wished that I were in high school…how naïve of me. As my list of tasks gets longer, so does my list of wishing things away.
If you’re anything like me and you constantly wish for a new chapter, I think we need to collectively slow down on our readings. It's time we enjoy each page and realize that every chapter has some sort of conflict. College can be stressful, yes. But it is also some of the best years of our lives. We are young, and we have the whole world ahead of us. If we fail, we still have plenty of time left to succeed. I’m not saying you should blow off every class and not study for exams, but don’t forget to devote some time to yourself and your friends because if you do forget you might spend too much time wishing your time away. I would hate for us to turn to the next chapter too quick and wake up tomorrow with two kids and a pile of bills stacked up on the kitchen table.
Every story has a beginning, and every story has an end. I can only wish that the stresses I face in college still have a few more chapters so I can try to find the good within all this conflict. Someone really awesome once told me, “Stress is just a factor of life. Don't let it become your actual life.” So have that Britney Spears breakdown here and there, but please don’t rush too quickly to your next chapter. Let’s make the best of all of our chapters and not wish time away because otherwise we will be deprived of the best elements that are meant to lead us into our resolution. I wish I wouldn’t wish.
