You can make it

All right, we’ve got three weeks left.

Some of you are crying. Some of you are curled up in balls panicking about whether you’ll wake up from the nightmare that is the three eight-pagers you have due next week. Some of you have gone numb under the pressure, sitting and staring at your unread textbooks, hoping that their information will just hop into your knowledge base.

Some of you are just waking up, reeking of hangover, thinking that if you can just get rid of the headache then maybe you can wrap your head around the final you have just a short way away.

This is your unsolicited advice columnist speaking.

I am here to tell you that these are things that you can conquer. School will never push you past what you can handle, and believe me, this is a temporary predicament that you can get through with the right approach — like a stress-stomping pro.

Some of you need to focus on detoxing your body, as your system may be begging for a cleansing for one reason or another. Eat whole grains, broccoli, asparagus, almonds, lentils, cranberries and other fresh fruit like it’s your job.

To relieve stress, eat bananas, ginger, hot tea, blueberries, carrots, yogurt and fatty fishes.

Being productive is hard. Saying “Stop being stressed!” is about as helpful as saying, “Hey, get that great white shark unclamped from around your neck.”

The key is tricking yourself into a happier outlook. When your mind is most clouded, go outside for just a little bit. Spreading a blanket out in the Arboretum, while not wholly productive, can do wonders for your mind-set.

Focus on something you have to look forward to this summer, whether that is a road trip, an internship or just the ability to finally sleep in. You’re almost there.

Set aside a small amount of time to vent to someone about your troubles. Talking over coffee, sitting on your dorm floor or in a crowded Qdoba — there’s nothing more cathartic than a listening ear.      

Please forgive me for speaking in aphorisms. I’ve always found that some vague and/or encouraging quotation worthy of a coffee mug or a refrigerator magnet suddenly seems so applicable when you’re at your worst.

And whether you truly are at your worst or just trying to get by, it’s important to never let anyone belittle your pressures. Your problems are relevant, and with just two weeks of classes left, all of your school stressors will soon be far, far away.

­— ftirado@indiana.edu