Dorothy Parker had it right

Melissa Treolo

A very famous poet by the name of T.S. Eliot once said “anxiety is the hand maiden of creativity.” Now, no offense to Mr. Eliot who I happen to be a big fan of but, if he were alive today and I ever got the chance to meet him, I would ask what the hell are you smoking?

With finals week almost upon us, I’m sure many of us are feeling the stress of trying to finish out the semester in some kind of sane fashion. I myself can only take comfort in the fact that I’m not alone in feeling this way.

For now, the only thing to do is be true to yourself, no matter what the literary geinuses of the world say. Eliot may have been wonderful at handling anxiety, perhaps he wrote the majority of his wonderful poetry under the pressure of a gun shot. But that may not be the case for us students anticipating a week filled with tests that may make or break our grades.

A few helpful tips to get through finals week, (and hopefully I can take my own advice):

1. Get lots of rest.

I’m thinking this won’t happen for most of us but I’m throwing it on the table anyway. Sleep is bound to make you think clearer and make that drive to class a bit safer. Plus it makes you look and feel prettier. Not this should be your first consideration during finals week.

2. Eat a balanced diet

Once again, this will probably be the last thing on our minds but, what the hell, that’s what they say you should do and who am I to argue with health police?

3. Try to have a bit of fun

Diversion, in the form of shopping, watching TV, going out, shopping, is the best way to get my mind off things. Finding the time to do these things may be tough next week but make the time if you can.

4. Finally, let quotes about how best to handle strees from dead authors be your quideposts. Another of my favorite authors, Dorothy Parker, noted the futility of this when she said “I might repeat to myself slowly and soothingly a list of quotations beautiful and profound – if I can remember the damn things.”

In this, our final Argo issue of the semester, we wish you well with finals week and all the summer fun that will come after it.