"Turns out, not where, but who you're with that really matters." -Dave Matthews Band

Midterm time is here and I inevitably am sick! Between the amount of work I have and the stress I am experiencing, I am run down. I have not given myself any real relaxation time so far this semester, so I believe it is long overdue.  Since I am a commuter, I do not really do much on campus other than attend my classes. However, over the weekend, I made an effort to connect with my friends here on campus. During orientation I made a strong bond with my group members, especially my friend Corynn. She had been asking me to hang out with her for weeks but I never seemed to have the time to. Finally, on Saturday I decided to spend the day with her.

Just by being on campus during the weekend I found myself having fun. I believe it is important for me to have a connection with those living here as well as my friends at home. Corynn and I spent the day relaxing. We hung out and talked for hours. Sometimes that is all a person really needs. Just to talk. I found this to be very therapeutic during this stressful time. We caught ourselves up on each other’s lives and laughed about the many stories we both had. After conversing for a while we went and had dinner together off campus with a couple of friends from SCSU. This was so much fun for me because it was so different than my everyday life. I am not use to seeing these friends much, only during class time. It was truly a nice feeling to be getting to know them better outside of the classroom. I ended up sleeping over Corynn’s that night which was also new to me. I got to experience much of college living all in one day.

At the end of the experience, I was happy. I felt relieved and reenergized to continue through the rest of this difficult time. Being with Corynn gave me the extra boost I needed to get myself through Midterms. Friendship is a very helpful thing. Your friends have a way to make you feel better like no one else can. They understand your stress because they are experiencing it too. They can take your mind off of the future and help you focus on the present moment. I encourage everyone to allow themselves time for friends during the most academically stressful points in the semester. Although your grades are important, do not sacrifice your happiness for it. Academic success requires a healthy body as well as a happy attitude.