EDITORIAL: Cliché advice sometimes rings true

Take a really deep breath.

That’s probably the most cliché advice one can receive in the first week of classes. But it can also be the best advice.

It’s easy in the first week, or even the first few days, to become a little stressed out.

There’s a delicate balance that exists in college between trying to find enough time for work, school, sleep, friends and trying to make sure you’re giving it your all in every area. Sometimes that’s not always possible.

That’s when one must take a really deep breath.

The stress of making bosses, parents and professors proud is a lot to handle, and it’s made even more difficult because no day is ever the same. It’s understandably hard to plan too far in advance because so much can change at any given time.

But it’s important to remember that priorities must be organized and it’s not necessary to be perfect at everything.

As the “Van Wilder” quote goes: “Don’t take life too seriously. You won’t make it out alive.”

That’s when one must take a really deep breath.

Obviously, some things must be taken seriously, but it’s not necessary, or recommended, that one burn oneself out in the process.

Not everything must be done perfectly, but rather at the very best of one’s ability. That best may not be good enough for everybody, but it’s important to have thick skin and a short memory.

When the stress of a day or a situation gets to you, the best move is to take five or 10 minutes to step away from everything and relax.

It’s easier said than done, but if it’s not attempted, things will stay the same.

College students, especially freshmen, are under a lot of pressure to make parents proud, act responsibly, maybe even live up to an older brother’s or sister’s accomplishments.

But you can’t make everybody happy all the time. Life poses a lot of challenges. If it didn’t, college students would only be learning facts and numbers and wouldn’t learn about themselves.

Professors can only teach so much. The rest has to be learned internally through personal experiences and tribulations.

However, the first step to taking on those challenges is a clear head.

Take a really deep breath.