Score of

6

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5

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4

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3

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2

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1

   When I decided to return to school three and a half years ago, I was single and employed full-time. To say that my life was hectic would be an understatement, but I also knew that doing anything worthwhile is seldom easy. Fortunately, I had to keep this pace for only six months because when I married three years ago, my husband asked me to give up my job and devote my full attention to my studies. Though being a married full-time student is not always “paradise,” this status does have its advantages.

   First, I don’t have to worry about pressure from a job competing with the abundant pressure I have from school. Keeping up with reading assignments, doing homework, writing papers, and otherwise preparing for class can be quite a task, if I do these things properly. Unless I have a few professor who have obviously conspires to give heavy assignments at the same time, I can usually juggle my work to get it all done well, and on time.

  Second, and I know my unselfish husband considered this, I have time not only to do my school work, but also to spend with him. I feel that this is very important, especially because I plan to be married for longer than I plan to be a student. Though I have been married only three short years, I know my husband well. He demands a great deal of my time and attention, and if I were single and still working, I wouldn’t even have time to date.

   Another advantage is that I don’t have to do all the household chores by myself. We share the work, and this frees me to have time to do fun things, too. I must admit that sharing the housework wasn’t easy at first, but my investment in my husband’s domestic education has really paid off.

   Married life has also added an element of stability to my perspective. This is important because I think that I am for better now at analyzing things thoroughly than when I was a somewhat flighty, single person. I feel more secure, and because I feel that I have less to worry about now, I can devote more energy to truly grasping the knowledge that will help me through my new career.

   Of course, I saved the best for last. My husband really supports everything I do. He proofreads papers, he argues with me when he thinks I’m wrong, and he provides me with the extra push to go on when I think I can’t. He’s the best cheering section a person could hope for. With all of these things working in my favor, how could I fail?

6-point scale:

5 or 6

   There are very few incidents in life that cause one to feel pain, discomfort, embarrassment, and happiness all at the same time. One of those rare and beautiful occasions is childbirth. The story that I tell is the birth of my son, Michael.

   Valentine’s Day had arrived and I was walking my dog Sam, through the woods surrounding my home. God and I were having a conversation concerning the possibility that he might allow me to have the baby immediately since I was not prepared, and did not want to prepare, for a linguistics exam scheduled for the following day. I said, “God, let there be birth!” I got a cramp.

   Seven hours later, I was experiencing a great deal of unbearable pain. Horror was the dominating thought that raced around the labor room, LaMaze techniques were designed to occupy my mind so that I was too busy to feel the pain. I had a decision to make. Either I could pull out what little remaining hair my husband possessed or I could beg Dr. Lerner for an epidural.

   Within ten minutes the anesthesiologist arrived to perform a spinal block. The pain of the contractions did little to mask the discomfort that the procedure entailed. I had to assume a tight fetal position, which is difficult to do when you have a baby in the way. My discomfort grew when the doctor missed the first opportunity to sedate me when my reflexes tore out the tube necessary for the solution. Once the uncomfortable procedure was completed, I was bastion of happiness. Much to the disgust of my waiting and anxious husband, I slept for the next eight hours, waking only to make sure he was still holding court in the labor room.

   Embarrassment is the only word to describe many of the feelings that I experienced in the delivery room. There is no modesty allowed in a room where three people are standing between your legs wearing expressions of concentration, joy, and something that resembles nausea. I shamed myself when my first reaction to seeing Michael was to vomit. Such events in the delivery room paled in comparison to the tasks that had to perform the next day. Nurses followed me to the bathroom, checks the episiotomy site every couple hours, and I had to learn to breastfeed my baby with my whole family watching, encouraging, and cheering.

   Looking back on the birth, including the feelings of pain, discomfort, and embarrassment, I have to admit that it was one of the happiest times of my life. The birth of Michael made a family out of a couple. My son has been a source of great joy and wonder to my husband and me. I would do it all again. I would take on twice the inconveniences of it meant that I could have half the happiness that is now mine.

6-point scale:

5

   The pressure placed on college students from teachers is great. The pressure placed on college students by themselves is greater. Now add the pressures placed on college students by their peers to the previously mentioned pressures, and you have one very stressed student. The single student at a college university has an unseen advantage that will benefit him on her in the long run.

   Many pressures exist in the college environment that can hinder a students’ performance. These pressures can be internal pressures, the normal pressures of homework and classroom competition or external pressure, pressure from family, friends and job. The single student has the advantage of a more financially and mentally secure lifestyle that gives him or her the edge over his married peer.

   All students have to deal with the pressure placed on them in the form of homework or term papers. However, a peaceful life outside of the classroom will most often lead to a peaceful life within the classroom. The single student does not have to deal with the emotional bouts of a spouse and a school assignment at the same time. He or she is the master of his or her own time and therefore can schedule his or her own time for studies in a more pleasant manner. Not only does the single student have more personal time for studies, he or she usually will be financially more stable. Instead of spending money on dates or gifts, he or she has only one person to look after. Thus, money becomes more plentiful. The more money the student has, the more options he or she has.

   With the extra cash, a student could realistically cut back his or her hours from work. This would provide the student with more available time to buckle down and study. Or if the student was on top of his or her homework, the extra time could be spent in leisure, which in turn would help to relieve the stresses found at school. With this lessened pressure, the student would be more energetic and willing to study and learn.

   Another option a single student has with the extra each is to start a savings account for a year or so the student will have collected a nice nest-egg that he or she could use at his or her discretion. Perhaps the student would use the extra cash to take specialized educational courses outside of their major. Possibly a trip to Spain to learn Spanish or a trip to England to study at Cambridge. Whatever the use, the student shall be less stressed proving that he or she is financially secure. In addition, a single student has the advantage over the married student.

   Single students can benefit from the relationships they form with their peers. They are able to socialize with students of the opposite sex without worrying about the spouse. Many late nights are spent studying with fellow students. These late nights might mean a higher grade. Most often the responsibilities of being married would prevent the married student from taking advantage of these late night study groups.

   It is easy to see that the advantages offered a single student are many. School and homework affords enough pressures. The peace of mind, the financial security, and the social freedom of the single student cannot do anything but help the student enjoy school. A happy student is a good student, and the single student is both.

6-point scale:

5

Ways People Respond

   Depending on the type of environment a person was brought up in, reactions to stressful, embarrassing, or uncomfortable situations will undoubtedly vary. Often, the true character of a person will expose itself most honestly when forced to respond to an unpleasant or dangerous situation.

   For instance, imagine that you and your girlfriend are in a restaurant or bar and an individual repeatedly pressures you to fight and/or “step outside.” What you do reflects your patience, intelligence, and your ability to rationalize the specific situation. Personally, I have witnessed the mentioned encounter several times before and I am never surprised at the results. If you come from an abusive or poverty stricken family, you may react aggressively since violence is nothing new to you. If from a suburban, middle class family, mainly sheltered from occurrences such as a fight seeker, you might act prematurely or unwisely because of lack of experience.

   Another interesting example of varied reactions stems from public speaking of any type. Probably everyone has had knots in their stomachs in anticipation of being called upon to speak in class or for presentations of any kind. One outgoing individual might at the chance to grab the “spot light” while a more withdrawn person would rather take a failing grade or freeze up or even call in with a mysterious illness. Confidence comes from experience and trial upon trial of new ideas without letting ones fears inhibit progress.

   Some students who “stress out” during exam time do so for several reasons. One may be that they have not studied and are unprepared to take the test or write the paper. Another student may “stress out” but still perform well under pressure because that is the only time the student will work. Still, yet another student over prepares and draws a blank on test day. Studying while fatigued or preoccupied are possible reasons for poor performance. A lousy study environment, whether avoidable or not, usually kinders a students’ progress.

   A humorous occurrence, at least to some, happens in a crowded classroom, during silence. One student lets out an uncontrolled belch which everyone in the class can hear. The person may turn red, or could laugh with the class to relieve the tension. The more upset a person gets only magnifies the gravity of the situation. A simple “excuse me” followed by a return to studying as if nothing happened is yet another response to this situation.

   Uncomfortable situations like a room during summer with no air conditioning bring out the worst in some people. Making things worse for everyone else, one student might complain constantly of the conditions. Another student may quietly fan his/herself and continue working whether happy or not.

   The temperament is directly dependent on the way you were brought up and taught to react by your parents or guardians.  

6-point scale:

4

“The Advantages of being a Single Student”

   The transition of being a high school student into becoming an effective college level student can be an exciting road, or a vague and unsure maze. And to maintain that stability once it is achieved can be even more difficult, it maybe a steady and upward climb. But no matter what, having as few obligations as possible allows for a much more manageable journey. Thus, the life of a single student has many advantages.

   Many of the advantages are quite obvious. Financially, a student only has one obligation, his or herself. A prime example of this is that the single student only to pay for themselves, say for housing, food, clothing, or insurance, as opposed to having to pay for an additional person. Another advantage may be having more time for themselves. There is no need to sacrifice study time, etc. to be with a spouse. Not that being with someone else is a negative thing, but being a student requires time and dedication. And of course, being a student does not require absolutely 100% of one’s time to studing, etc.

   There are many free moments and sometimes a day or so. Being single would allow that student to do whatever he or she chooses to do with that free time, instead of being obligated to a marriage.

   Clearly, the life of a single student has advantages. Time and money are just two examples of many advantages one may have. Of course, to be single or married is a free choice everyone has. However, during college it may be to one’s advantage to remain single.

6-point scale:

2 or 3

1. The advantages + disadvantages of being a single student.

   A cross-section of the students in a typical institution will probably reveal that the student body is made up primarily of young, single students who have followed the natural progression of attending a university immediately after high school. For most of them, college is just a more advanced stage of what they had become used to in high school, but with more complicated courses and beurocracy. Usually, those who have take time away from the educational environment, due to careers or marriage, have to deal with a period of readjustment that can prove insurmountable.

   One of the key benefits to the single status of a student is flexability. The student is able to follow whatever major they desire and school can become the focus of their lives; earning money and enduring relationships become secondary. But this very flexability can also be the cause of turmoil. Unlike a married student, there is no stable family unit to fall back on in times of crisis. Many of the friendships farmed in school are transient in nature.

   Single students are usually more susceptible to the fickle moods of peer preasure than those who are, or have been married. Many seek confirmation of their acceptability from people not qualified to judge and miss the fact that they are going to school for themselves.

6-point scale:

2 or 3

Question: The advantage or disadvantage of being a married student.

Being a married student

   Being a married student would be difficult to explain or understand. It has many different advantages and disadvantages. In my beliefs it would be harder for the spouse than the student. The spouse may have feelings of jealousy toward the other, unless a bond of trust is built between them. Also the spouse may feel uncared for because all the student does is study. They would not spend as much time together as they intended. If the couple had a child as well, it would also be difficult. The spouse would have to tend to the child’s needs all the time. That would bring up the question of family income. The fact of a child being born is unlikely, but it happens. In conclusion I would think that if you have trust and an understanding spouse you can have a successful manage as well as being a student.

6-point scale:

2

1. Ways people respond to stressful, uncomfortable, or embarrassing situations.

Responding to Stress

   Generally people are responsive to stressful, uncomfortable, and embarrassing situations. Some responses differs from another depending on the situation. Take, for example, a stressful response. Being overstressed, people will find a way to relax themselves to the situation. Some responses are: taking certain drugs, taking time off wherever stress is generated, or even sleeping. Usually, sleeping is a bad response due to the fact that stress is still present and sleeping is only temporary. Taking certain drugs can be wrong because it is also temporary and stress will build again. Drugs can also be addictive. The most successful response is to find to roots of stress and find ways to overcome it.

6-point scale:

1

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