MARY WISNIEWSKI
Assistant Living Editor
It’s autumn, and that normally means chilly weather, colorful leaves and hot cider. But alas, we’re going to school in California. Leaves don’t fall here — in fact, grades are probably the only thing falling around campus during October.
For many students, October seems to mean a month of midterms, stress and despair, and tests are testing each student’s ability to stay sane. And no, saying “supercalifragilisticexpialidocious” won’t make you feel better.
Lots of homework doesn’t mean you should lose your mind, though. Here are a series of simple activities to remedy the mental illnesses brought on by the fall semester.
STEP ONE: Call the health center to get a massage
Going to Pepperdine might cause stress for some, but Malibu also has its benefits. One such example can actually be found in the Health Center. There is a massage therapist who charges $25 for 30 minutes. You will still have tests to take and papers to write, but hey, your back will feel better, and so will your state of mind. Plus, soothing music plays in the background — that should block the outside world for a short while.
STEP TWO: Go to the beach
SThe beach is always a place people go to unwind and relax. So join the crowd. (That is, if you know how to swim and don’t sunburn easily.) Bring your books, too. Perhaps you won’t study, but at least it looks like you will — appearances count for something. Plus, the books can make an excellent prop for taking naps. Or if you are not that tired, you can lollygag around the sand spying on others. Perhaps they will be doing something you also want to try, and that will provide inspiration for your next procrastination technique.
STEP THREE: Meet Funky Strangers
Some people say yoga really relaxes them, but if this doesn’t do it for you, maybe meeting strange people does. Go to Venice Beach or Hollywood and see who you can find. The weirder, the better. Ask them their life stories, and soon your life won’t seem as spastic and complicated. It’s always nice to know there is someone out there crazier than you, and meeting these people will immediately relieve stress because, in comparison, your life is peachy. You might even get a good laugh or chin-scratching moment out of it. Just don’t scratch your chin or laugh in front of them.
STEP FOUR: Buy a Bichon Frise
OK, a puffy white mini-dog is not for everyone, but it certainly should be. These dogs provide hours of ridiculous entertainment that will keep your mind off school stress. Plus, they like to run around in circles really fast. This alone will put your mind in a tizzy as well as provide a mental escape from the humdrum world of doing homework. So buy one — they are cute and love to love. And if it isn’t potty trained yet, then rest assured you won’t be doing homework for some time.
STEP FIVE: Come up with a new identity
If Prince can reinvent himself, so can you. It’s easy: Start by changing your name and clothing style, and finish off your new look with a wig or a haircut. Voilà. No longer are you who you once were. Instead, you can be Jasmine, Gigi, Artem or Luke. With your new identity, all the old worries slip away. Pura Vida, man. Be careful, though. Others may think you are having an identity crisis, so make sure your disguise is nothing less than perfect. This should be easy, as Halloween is coming up. And maybe you can ditch the disguise afterward — after all, midterms happen only once a semester.
10-06-2005
