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Current Issue: Volume 130, Number 1 July 14, 2009
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Derby
PU encourages setting goals

Posted 04-19-2007 at 6:00PM

In light of all the calories we ingested yesterday from the Ben & Jerry’s Free Cone Day, I thought it would be relevant to mention the Boston Marathon. The 111th Boston Marathon was held on Monday earlier this week, and the winner, Robert Cheruiyot, completed the 26.2 mile run in just over two hours and 14 minutes. I could only dream of running that fast, but the challenge still excites me. As spring leads into summer, and our classes lead into finals, I would encourage everyone to make sure they are exercising, at least a little bit, every day. I have found running to be a great stress reliever, and usually become more charged and focused on my studies after I have gone for a run. I mention this primarily because study days and finals week is a very stressful time for students, and any way to reduce this stress is beneficial. I also feel that running can be a great motivator in all areas of our lives. By creating a challenge and competing against ourselves, we are able to push the limits of what we can do physically and also mentally. I, myself, have a quirky habit when I run, that many of you may find useful. When I am running I like to compare how well I’m running with a letter grade. When I am half-way done with a run, I have an F, and when I am 90% done with the run, I have an A. While this may sound strange, I have found that I can push myself harder to finish a race than if I had not set a goal.

Likewise, we can compare our physical challenges with our academic challenges that lie ahead of us. Set a goal for studying, networking, or socializing and don’t stop until you have achieved your goal. Push yourself to get involved in a club, activity, or another group of friends. College is a time to educate ourselves, but it is also a time to discover who we are. If we don’t challenge ourselves to grow into well-rounded individuals, we are missing out on a key part of college. Push yourself to read politics, study art or music, or express your creativity through writing. While at RPI, make sure you meet lots of people and get to know them on a more than superficial level.

We have many challenges that lie ahead of us, but we need to learn to embrace those challenges, rather than to allow them to stress us out. If we really challenge ourselves to become well-rounded, I feel that many of us will change our perceptions about the campus and its culture. There is a lot of opportunity, responsibility, and diversity at Rensselaer, and by involving ourselves, we will be able to keep a healthy campus atmosphere. I would like to end with a quote by William Van Horne that should encourage you to challenge yourself in any situation: “Nothing is too small to know, and nothing is too big to attempt.”



Posted 04-19-2007 at 6:00PM
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