Spring Break
Column: No problem is too big to talk about
Sam Fisher/Columnist
Issue date: 2/27/09 Section: Opinions
We live in a conservative society where limits are placed on behavior, and many actions are looked down on or prohibited.
In regards to certain substances, parents often avoid having an opinion on whether they believe something is right or wrong, saying, "There's a time and a place for everything, and it's called college."
College is built up as the ultimate social experience, where crazy stuff happens all the time, and you can do whatever you want with little or no consequences.
In the time I have been in college, a movie called "College" has come out that bills college as a nonstop party where sex and booze are omnipresent and studying is an afterthought.
Soon, a reality show called "College Life" will come out where students carry around a camera throughout their freshman year and document their experiences.
Why the obsession with college?
I guess all the adults of the world look back on college as a more carefree time of life and the kids view it some sort of Val Halla.
As someone who goes to college, I love the freedom and fresh experiences, but I also know about the extreme stresses it creates.
Professors don't get paid to worry about how much work you already have when they hand you a nice big assignment.
If too much of your leisure time gets wiped out by work, your spirit suffers and anxiety builds.
Beyond being swamped with work, the looming end of college is frightening because that blasted "real world" that everyone talks about has to start.
I had a terrifying experience with anxiety last year.
I had a slow build-up of unsettling feelings that I couldn't ignore until I was sitting on my couch and I couldn't catch my breath. I thought I was losing my mind and couldn't bear it for one more second.
I called my dad and he told me the same thing happened to him a few times in his early twenties. He calmed me down and helped me reel my mind back under control, and I made an appointment at the counseling center.
They taught me some anxiety curbing techniques and informed me that anxiety attacks are much more common than anyone thinks. People just generally don't talk about them.
The human mind is like a traveling bicycle that never stops, like the never-ending flow of time.
Sometimes the chain comes off, and we frantically pedal to keep going, but it spirals out of control.
With time, patience and humility, anyone can get back on track. The stresses of college often seem overwhelming, and it's easy to feel alone in your struggles.
Just remember no problem is as bad as it seems after you talk to someone about it. Friends, family and the great people at the Counseling Center are here to ease the anxiety that comes along with the carefree, nonstop party that is college.
Sam Fisher is a junior geography major. He can be reached at 581-7942 or at DENopinions@gmail.com.
In regards to certain substances, parents often avoid having an opinion on whether they believe something is right or wrong, saying, "There's a time and a place for everything, and it's called college."
College is built up as the ultimate social experience, where crazy stuff happens all the time, and you can do whatever you want with little or no consequences.
In the time I have been in college, a movie called "College" has come out that bills college as a nonstop party where sex and booze are omnipresent and studying is an afterthought.
Soon, a reality show called "College Life" will come out where students carry around a camera throughout their freshman year and document their experiences.
Why the obsession with college?
I guess all the adults of the world look back on college as a more carefree time of life and the kids view it some sort of Val Halla.
As someone who goes to college, I love the freedom and fresh experiences, but I also know about the extreme stresses it creates.
Professors don't get paid to worry about how much work you already have when they hand you a nice big assignment.
If too much of your leisure time gets wiped out by work, your spirit suffers and anxiety builds.
Beyond being swamped with work, the looming end of college is frightening because that blasted "real world" that everyone talks about has to start.
I had a terrifying experience with anxiety last year.
I had a slow build-up of unsettling feelings that I couldn't ignore until I was sitting on my couch and I couldn't catch my breath. I thought I was losing my mind and couldn't bear it for one more second.
I called my dad and he told me the same thing happened to him a few times in his early twenties. He calmed me down and helped me reel my mind back under control, and I made an appointment at the counseling center.
They taught me some anxiety curbing techniques and informed me that anxiety attacks are much more common than anyone thinks. People just generally don't talk about them.
The human mind is like a traveling bicycle that never stops, like the never-ending flow of time.
Sometimes the chain comes off, and we frantically pedal to keep going, but it spirals out of control.
With time, patience and humility, anyone can get back on track. The stresses of college often seem overwhelming, and it's easy to feel alone in your struggles.
Just remember no problem is as bad as it seems after you talk to someone about it. Friends, family and the great people at the Counseling Center are here to ease the anxiety that comes along with the carefree, nonstop party that is college.
Sam Fisher is a junior geography major. He can be reached at 581-7942 or at DENopinions@gmail.com.
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