Students: cut yourselves some slack...
The Traveler Editorial Board
Issue date: 10/24/08 Section: Opinion
When we look around campus these days, we see a lot of tired eyes. Students seem to be overwhelmed by homework, extracurricular activities and work, and we've heard more than a few students cough, sneeze and sniff the past few days.
With not a break in sight until the week of Thanksgiving - which happens to be about a month away - students can expect to continue to feel run-down and weary for some time - unless they decide to give themselves a break and take better care of themselves.
Students sometimes put pressure on themselves to finish an unrealistic to-do list every day when that might not be necessary. Sometimes, items on that to-do list are meant to be fun - like decorating a float for Homecoming or finding a Halloween costume - but students still put pressure on themselves when it comes to those fun things. They want to decorate the winning float or find the costume that will be the most original at the party they plan to attend.
None of this is to say students shouldn't strive for excellence in all they do, or that no to-dos are truly necessary. Some are. For students who want to graduate, for example, attending class regularly and keeping up with homework assignments are musts. We also think voting in the upcoming presidential election should be nonnegotiable, too (see below).
But we think something is wrong when students feel guilty for taking a lunch break or for going to the gym to work out for an hour. We think something is wrong when students can no longer enjoy what's meant to be fun - like Homecoming or Halloween - because they've applied the standards they hold for their work to their play. We think something is wrong when students come to class even when they're sick because they don't think professors will cut them slack.
In our experience, administrators and professors at the UA have the best interest of students at heart. They understand the pressures that come with student life (they were students once, too, after all!). More than likely, professors would understand if students need to miss class because they have a sore throat or if they need an extension on an assignment because they went to bed with a migraine the night before or because something upsetting occurred in their personal lives.
So, no, the pressure doesn't seem to be coming from professors. If students are anything like us, then the pressure they feel is coming from themselves. Students need to cut themselves some slack.
The bottom line is, students who have the flu or who are too tired to think straight will be less effective than students who are healthy and who view what they have to do with optimism and excitement.
So, take care of yourselves. Forego re-reading that last chapter for your midterm to catch an hour more of sleep. Watch your favorite TV show without feeling guilty. Eat dinner at the restaurant you've been eyeing the past couple of weekends. And, of course, wash your hands, drink plenty of water and exercise when you have the chance.
With not a break in sight until the week of Thanksgiving - which happens to be about a month away - students can expect to continue to feel run-down and weary for some time - unless they decide to give themselves a break and take better care of themselves.
Students sometimes put pressure on themselves to finish an unrealistic to-do list every day when that might not be necessary. Sometimes, items on that to-do list are meant to be fun - like decorating a float for Homecoming or finding a Halloween costume - but students still put pressure on themselves when it comes to those fun things. They want to decorate the winning float or find the costume that will be the most original at the party they plan to attend.
None of this is to say students shouldn't strive for excellence in all they do, or that no to-dos are truly necessary. Some are. For students who want to graduate, for example, attending class regularly and keeping up with homework assignments are musts. We also think voting in the upcoming presidential election should be nonnegotiable, too (see below).
But we think something is wrong when students feel guilty for taking a lunch break or for going to the gym to work out for an hour. We think something is wrong when students can no longer enjoy what's meant to be fun - like Homecoming or Halloween - because they've applied the standards they hold for their work to their play. We think something is wrong when students come to class even when they're sick because they don't think professors will cut them slack.
In our experience, administrators and professors at the UA have the best interest of students at heart. They understand the pressures that come with student life (they were students once, too, after all!). More than likely, professors would understand if students need to miss class because they have a sore throat or if they need an extension on an assignment because they went to bed with a migraine the night before or because something upsetting occurred in their personal lives.
So, no, the pressure doesn't seem to be coming from professors. If students are anything like us, then the pressure they feel is coming from themselves. Students need to cut themselves some slack.
The bottom line is, students who have the flu or who are too tired to think straight will be less effective than students who are healthy and who view what they have to do with optimism and excitement.
So, take care of yourselves. Forego re-reading that last chapter for your midterm to catch an hour more of sleep. Watch your favorite TV show without feeling guilty. Eat dinner at the restaurant you've been eyeing the past couple of weekends. And, of course, wash your hands, drink plenty of water and exercise when you have the chance.
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