Stress the Unwanted Motivater

Stress: the unwanted motivator

Stress is Pressure. It causes distress in so many different aspects of our lives. But without stress, it would be hard to get anything done. In some ways, it plays an important role in how we complete the difficult, or even the simplest tasks of our everyday lives. Stress comes in different forms to each person. For some, it is a rash that goes away with medicated cream, but for others it is a flesh eating disease that destroys their lives. There are various levels of stress and infinite causes.

To a college student, stress is worrying about passing your class and paying off your student loans. It is about deadlines, lack of sleep, working two jobs and maybe homesickness. As stated before, stress can come from many different things. Each student handles it differently. There is the college student that is the ultimate multi-tasker. They can work two jobs, take a full course load successfully and still manage to go the kegger with his/her friends on two hours of sleep. For that person, stress is a motivator. Then there is the other student, that can keep up with the social aspect of college, but when it is time to sit down and study for that exam they have the next morning, the stress kicks in and overwhelms them. They end up saying screw it and flunking the class. Finally there is the perfectionist student. They study for every exam, quiz, and test. They are punctual and they worry over every detail. They stress if they are anything but perfect, and they stress until breaking point, which then leads them to drastic measures like cheating, or drugs to get through the day.

Stress of a college student could seem minor compared to stress of a person living in the real world. There's the mortgage, bills to pay and mouths to feed. In this day and age there is not enough time in a day to get everything done. Money is tight and there are too many expenses. Think of a single mother or single father, who most likely have a full-time job, maybe even two. All by themselves they have to take care of their kids (which could easily be the hardest job on the planet), pay bills and upkeep a home. Sickness or poor health in yourself or a loved one is another given stressor. There are hundreds of things that cause stress and the average everyday person has to manage it or else everything will fall apart for them.

The examples mentioned before may not apply to everyone in America, but the following issues do. The American economy is far from perfect right now. We are faced with high energy rates, rising gas prices and food costs. Poverty, hunger and homelessness are issues that are growing every day. Businesses are struggling and the unemployment rate is not improving. In a presidential election year, the nation appears more divided. While this division appears to bring a negative impact to our communities, it does give people a chance to express their opinions, voice