By Alexandra Gargon (Whetstone Staff Writer)

Alexandra Gargon

“To be yourself is all that you can do.”

These words, sung by Audioslave in “Be Yourself” mean more than they appear.

To be yourself IS all that you can do, but people also need challenges in life and motivation to be what they want to be or do the best job they can on a task. It’s not enough in life to simply go through the motions and never get anything out of it.

People always advise us to live life to the fullest. But, I’m troubled with what that actually means.

Why are some people so unhappy? Why is it hard for some people to live their lives to the fullest? Is it possible for those people to bring you down with them?

College students have a lot on their plate. The combination of grades, papers, dorm life, moving out of their home, having to make new friends, possibly having a job, and having harder classes than they were perhaps used to in high school is a lot to take on when one is not used to it.

I get that. Everyone has stress in her life and no one can be totally happy 24 hours a day.

But, what I don’t understand is why some people get so down that it starts to affect their schoolwork, grades, work ethic and friendships.

Being around so much negative energy can make a person feel that way, too.

The bottom line is that college is definitely an adjustment. It’s harder for some more than others.

But, you cannot let yourself be personally affected by the decisions or actions of others. Removing yourself from an uncomfortable situation is one of the most important steps to take.

So that’s what I am doing.

It has hit me that I only have about a year and a half left of my college career; only a year and a half to get my act together and prepare myself for entering the real world.

I don’t want to remember college as the time that I slacked off or didn’t work my hardest for the things I want most. It’s time to focus on the important things, and do my best to make them happen.