Dear Stressed-Out College Student,

I see you, staring out over a giant pile of books, surrounded by empty coffee cups, Red Bull cans, take-out containers, and junk food bags. I feel you. Hell, I am you. What is it about this time of the semester that drives us all insane? The sun is shining, the birds are shining, the flowers are blooming; yet all I want to do is curl up in my bed and never move again for the next two weeks. A temporary coma actually sounds great right now.

I know what I'm about to say will sound completely ludicrous, but what we're feeling is only temporary. In a few weeks, all of this agony will be over and we'll be free for three whole months! (Well, hopefully you'll be, anyway. I still have to take two summer classes.) Our brains trick us to make us think that our stress and anxiety will last an eternity, but it'll actually be over before we know it.

The next step in regaining some semblance of sanity is to make sure that you're taking care of your body and mind. Whenever I start feeling especially terrible, especially during finals time, it's usually because I haven't eaten, drunk, or slept enough recently. Going through that mental checklist to figure out what might be wrong helps me get back on track and finish what I need to do.

Now, I know remembering to do these things can be hard. Sometimes, when I'm "in the zone" writing a paper or studying for an exam, I've avoided taking a break out of fear that I'll lose momentum when I return. However, that was an incredibly stupid decision, because although I finished everything that I had to get done, the quality of my work was terrible; I had to completely rewrite everything I had done a few days later. To avoid making the same mistake again, I set reminders on my phone, such as "Eat lunch," "Have a snack," or "Go pee." It sounds ridiculous, but it's actually quite effective.

Most importantly, remember that your grades don't define you as a person. I've seen so many pictures on Facebook and Twitter lately that say things like, "Pain is temporary. GPA is forever." These quotes are supposed to be inspiring, but that simply isn't true. GPAs only last four years, possibly more if you stay an undergrad longer or continue on to graduate school, but self-inflicted emotional scars can stay on your psyche for far longer. There are so many more wonderful things about you that can't be measured by a number or a letter grade, like a sense of humor, kindness, and compassion. One bad or so-so grade will not ruin your life; you're worth so much more than that.

May the curve be ever in your favor!

Sincerely;

Another College Student in the Same Position