Fall is a whirlwind of events for Sewanee students. A culmination of football games, homecoming, fall party, and currently: midterms. It’s a stressful period when hundreds of students flock to Dupont, and for some of them, rarely see the light of day.
All jokes aside, midterms aren’t something a college student looks forward to when they wake up to greet the day. It’s important for us during a time of constant studying, coffee-consuming, and hair wrenching moments to simply take it one day at a time.
Get in touch with your senses.
We’re extremely lucky to go to school in such a vast part of the world. When the familiar surroundings of McClurg at 12:00 or a crowded DuPont start to all seem a bit hectic and straining for our well being and mental state, going out for hikes and basking ourselves in the picturesque Tennessee woods is such a calming and meditative experience. You really begin to appreciate when you realize that there is something out there greater than a simple letter grade.
Breathe.
Cliché? Cliché. But if you ask my friend, and fellow her campus writer, Suxin Chen, she will wholeheartedly disagree with you:
“In our cognitive psychology class, our assignment for a week was to practice mindful breathing exercises for 2-5 minutes a day, trying to bring to that activity “a fresh quality and deliberate and gentle moment-to-moment awareness”. We had to write a journal entry about our observations, our thoughts and emotions at the time. For me, this exercise allowed me to put things in my busy schedule on pause and enjoy something that comes naturally to my body. I noticed that during a day, my breathing changes to be different intensities depending on how stressed I feel. This showed me that paying attention to the present moment in a non-judgmental way can really relieve stress and make life seem less burdensome. And it prompted me to think about the effects of stress and how doctors always talk about the damage it is on the body and mind. A lot of people work so hard during the day that we forget to take a break. One common phrase that people say to their friends is “just breathe” and I think that is something that would be beneficial if it’s taken literally. When we pay attention to our breath, it’s possible to become aware of the condition of the body, leading to possible awareness of how to treat our body and mind”.
Surround yourself with inspiring people.
Seriously, Sewanee students are amazing. Everyone I meet is so accomplished and awe inspiring. I get sucked into learning about their extracurriculars or opinions on social views. Your friends are the ones who encourage you, who push you and who uplift you. They are the constant motivators for why you have so much drive and spirit in college. I think that’s the beauty of Sewanee, we all constantly build off of each other’s successes, failures and ideas to create a unique environment that not every college student is blessed with.
Remember to do the things you love.
I had this realization earlier this year when I was taking a class (that shall not be named) because I thought it would be beneficial to my “career”. I realized that it simply wasn’t for me, and that’s fine! Don’t feel ashamed that you aren’t understanding as quickly as other students or it seems practically like another language. College is for learning what you are good and aren’t good at. It isn’t a setback, it’s only a stepping stone to finding yourself.
Listen wholeheartedly.
Listen not only to those around you, but also to yourself. Ultimately, you know what you can and can’t handle and if you’re heart isn’t in it then you can’t do much to change it. It’s important to have someone to lean on, whether that be a friend, parent, professor, coach or even a pet. For me, my mom is my biggest cheerleader – I don’t even think I could survive without our daily chats. I always feel like I have someone to listen to my little rants and remind me of more important things in life than some of my constant “worries”.
Be humble. Be kind.
You’re doing your best and no one expects you to do more than that. Sometimes we have a sense to project our worries and stress upon our friends and family, but it’s important to empathize with those around you. Trust me, sometimes after a hard day on the way to class and the person in front of you walks so slow or you spill your drink in class – it makes you want to pull your hair out, scream and get angry. But the best way to feel the most calm and collected, especially during a period of turmoil like midterms, is to always start and end the day smiling and treat people with respect. They could be going through the same feelings of doubt and insecurity just like you, and it’s important to send them with a little bit of kindness and encouragement to brighten their day.
You’re not alone.
There have been plenty of people before, after, and even right at this very moment that know what you’re going through and how you feel. It’s comforting to know you aren’t the only one struggling, or even sometimes failing. As long as we value the things we have, the people that support us, and accept turns and trials as they come, you are never alone in this thing they call life.
This practice of mindfulness, more than ever, is important. It’s important to value ourselves, because when we lose sight of who we are, we forget the things that truly matter: Forging relationships, the people we care about and who care about us, and finding ourselves in this complicated cycle of football games, parties and tests.
In my mind if we take time to practice these, the world, and college amidst midterms, would be a happier place.
Special thanks to Suxin Chen!