Without pressure there are no diamonds

It’s that time of year when stress takes over as our schedules get filled with an abundance of assignments and events along with deadlines. 

This year I am embracing this challenging time , but instead of viewing it as an annoyance, I see it as a special occasion of academic and personal growth. We should not worry too much about the final stretch of assignments, responsibilities, etc. 

After all, this is what we signed up for and getting angry about deadlines is a waste of much needed energy. Wouldn’t it work in our favor to just hammer out the tough work while enjoying the eventful atmosphere? That, to me, is the true college experience.

Stress certainly is not fun and charming, but we do forget that it is a critical part of our lives and tend to paint this evil picture of it. 

Imagine if you never felt any stress about anything for the rest of your life, would you accomplish the things you want? Or would you remain purposeless and complacent? Stress gives us that internal message that we need to accomplish something and make something of ourselves. 

Embrace this stress as an opportunity to become a better person who attacks the challenges life throws your way instead of dodging problems.

Do take steps to mitigate your stress, but worrying about being stressed is too redundant to be effective. 

Try viewing this stressful part of the year as the dramatic sequence that turns a good year into a great and memorable one. Every great story has that intense part near the end when someone barely escapes a nerve-wracking situation. 

When school is finished up, you will ask yourself the question: Did I put forth my best effort under pressure? Or did I allow myself to fold? Keep this in mind during midterm and final exams this semester.

The point I am trying to make  here is that you are going to be fine regardless what happens, but it is important that you embrace this stressful situation as an opportunity to flourish.

 It is much better to grind until you shine instead of watching success fly past you. You know what they say: no pressure, no diamonds.

Stress is what motivates us and we should not run away from it because this is impossible. It seems as an uneasy feeling, so we automatically try to find ways to cover it up with a blanket. This is an internal feeling telling you that something must be done.

Trying to avoid this feeling will only result in future disasters. If you don’t listen to your internal warning, then you will be forced to deal with the external crisis.

Luckily, stress is simple enough to deal with as long as you actually take care of the problem at hand. If you keep ignoring a problem for your comfort, it only grows.