The semester has begun, and I could not be more stressed. Classes are piling up over my head, and I have not attended any of them yet. I have dug myself into a hole of syllabi stress, and I feel like I will never find my way out.

Stress is the worst enemy I face every semester, and I am sure I am not alone. Looking into the sea of faces heading to class, we all have a similar look in our eyes: overwhelming anxiety. No matter how organized we are or how excited we are to take on the day, the stress lingers within.

If I am being honest, I’m glad I’m stressed. Stressing out means I care about my classes. I strive to be the best version of myself and do the best in these classes, so I overtly overstress to get ahead. If I view my stress with this positive insight, I become more calm. This means my stress has a purpose. I have a purpose in the madness I have surrounded myself with.

I encourage everyone to embrace their stress. With time, it will become a motivator that propels us forward. We can use stress to get on top of assignments and projects before they overtake us.

We are not alone. There are thousands of other students experiencing this stress at the same time. Chances are, if you reach out to a friend they are in the same place. Sometimes just knowing you’re not alone helps aid the panic.

Stress can be the downfall of us all, but it doesn’t have to be. Embrace it and use it. Use your stress to motivate you, but most importantly, don’t forget to take a break.

I often forget to breathe when I am down in my rabbit hole. If I am not in the right headspace, I will never excel or be able to move forward. So remember to breathe and use the stress to build yourself up.