That Thing We Have Called Stress
By Ben Peryer

Spring break: a time for college students to get away from the biggest drag, college. Whether it is to Montreal, north of the border, or Cancun, south of the border, spring break gives students everywhere a time to party, get drunk and have sex!

At least, that’s what I thought. Spring break is no longer a time for students to forget about their stresses. In fact, with the countless number of responsibilities students are faced with today, it hardly feels like a break at all.

Any college student would be offended to hear that they have got it easy in the world. In commenting on a mid-term being distributed in class right before spring break, a professor of mine said, “once you’ve finished the test, you can go off to the beach with your margaritas and live it up like you do.”

Like we do? If living it up means going to work to pay for college, going to classes, going to an internship, going back to work to pay for the rent, back to classes, and then back to the internship, sure. We college students are surely living it up. It seems, nameless professor, I have forgotten to include studying for that mid-term, among others, which you’ll be distributing, like you do.

Fortunately for us busy college students. Our busy lives have not gone unnoticed.

The University of Florida Counseling Center has reported that an excess of stress among college students is likely to be very harmful and appropriately acknowledges the high level of stress among college students today compared to that idyllic time when there are few worries and responsibilities.

The environment in which college students find themselves is one of the main contributing factors in this high level of stress. Social stresses, such as finances, work and personal lives are also major contributors. These factors can result countless emotional symptoms, including irritability and depression, as well as physical symptoms, such as muscle tension.

So that is why I am a 19-year-old with back problems?

It is further suggested by the University of Florida Counseling Center to develop a balanced life, discuss problems, and practice specific relaxation techniques.

I would get into those, but I just do not have the time.