PUSHED TO THE LIMIT

*The photo's not mine

A cross to bear— this is how most students view college life. The constant demands, together with the pressure from other people, can definitely make any individual insane. But aside from the tension that academics bring, extra-curricular activities also put a great weight on one’s already unbearable burden. The piles of homework, projects, and quizzes, when combined with the tasks from non-academic activities can make a person feel overwhelmed. All these boil down to one thing— stress. 

It is a phenomenon experienced by many and is usually attributed to as the main cause of depression. The latter is just one of the many effects that this adaptive response can bring. It is a state of low mood and has a great effect on one’s thoughts and feelings. But aside from that, people who experience stress also undergo physical and behavioral changes because of health complications. Loss of weight, lack of sleep, illnesses, and inclination towards vices are just some of its manifestations. Other physical outcomes would be aches, nausea, pains, and even constipation. The behavioral consequences on the other hand are feelings of isolation, neglect, and aversion to activities. 

Unfortunately, stress does not only affect a person physically or behaviorally. It can also take a toll on an individual’s cognition and emotion. A few examples would be memory problems, poor judgment, moodiness, and agitation. 

Having stress in life is truly unavoidable.  The burden of school works, the pressure from the people around, and even the difficulty of conforming to the society’s standards of a responsible individual all have a great impact on a student who is still trying to adjust to the changes that are happening not only to his surroundings but to his own body and life as well. It may seem normal for everyone is experiencing it but stress, when not given proper action and attention, may lead to drastic outcomes and worst, may even take the precious life of an individual who may possibly be the next great mind in history.

CRASIS

*The photo's not mine

“Just when the butterfly thought the world was over, it became a butterfly.” Like the magnificent creature that opened and displayed its wings at last, the brusque girl who once got rejected because of her manly actions and physique finally had the chance to reveal the beauty that was within her all along. No, it was not grief from the negative response that created the unexpected turn of events. It was actually the longing for love that outweighed the pain of rejection.

Love indeed works in ways we can never gauge.  The sudden change of disposition, the improvement of physical appearance, and even the minor modifications in our actions are all caused by this burning passion. When hit with this kind of affection, one feels the need to adjust and make some alterations on his external features so as to look good in the eyes of the one he adores. The changes can be seen from the way he mixes and matches his clothes down to the way he presents himself not only to his significant other but to the people around him as well.

However, that actually becomes a problem in the long run. When summer is over and the once astounding characteristics of an individual have already vanished, the love that once existed between the two beings may disappear along with it. What people should realize is that change done superficially will never last. A “come-and-go” transformation just to conform to the expectations of others will never equal the lasting effect of modifications that occurred within.

Yes, love truly encourages change. But it should not only happen on the surface. What this powerful force wants a person to improve are the inner attributes that will definitely last for a long time. After all, when you love someone, you love them not for something as temporary and as shallow as their looks but for who they truly are deep down to the soul.