Let the writing begin
Written by Christopher Dorsey, Sep 8, 2011, 0 Comments
Now that we’re a few weeks into another bustling school year, it seems those three “Rs”—reading, writing and arithmetic—remain at the helm of our education.
We’ll never fully rid them from our endeavors, but quite honestly, we never should. Despite the Facebook distractions and busy hormones that hope “the one” is standing just a library aisle away, college is about expanding the mind. Sure, pouring over books and pumping out research papers are college staples, but schoolwork is not the kind of mind expansion I propose.
Don’t get me wrong; it’s undeniably important to focus on your studies. Your classes will challenge you and open doors in the future, but experience is just as valuable as your ability to struggle through algebra equations.
After spending four years at another university and two here for graduate school, I would stress that of the three “Rs,” the one to keep you sane through these roller coasters of maturation is:
Write.
I admit, it’s a cliché thing to read in a newspaper chock full of writers, and not what most want to hear during a loaded semester, but that’s what grit is all about.
Whether you become a CEO, a broke artist or a repeat convict, your story is essentially all you have as the years tick away. In due time, you can flip through dusty pages, study your patterns, and teach yourself valuable wisdom. I prefer the aesthetic of physical notebooks, but digital writing works just as well.
Research indicates that journaling is one of the healthiest releases for pent up stress. No offense Zuckerburg, but a status update just won’t cut it. Without deadlines or red-penned professors, the key is to have a coherent conversation with yourself in private. It’s just you and a stack of bound paper. Whether you’ve depleted your 12 free counseling sessions—which I recommend all students do—organizing your thoughts is essential for a healthy mind.
College is the time for mind expansion, but don’t forget the importance of reflection. Self-awareness is just as powerful as book knowledge. You only have one life and one story to share, so find time to crack open a blank journal, smell the fresh paper, pour a glass or two of wine, and get that ballpoint pen rolling.
