Sarah's Subject...
The Clarion
W ' ’ ’.S ■'’> •
November 5, 1990
Page 3
Go placidly amid the noise and haste
ft
by Sarah Fish
Clarion Assistant Editor
It seems this year has been tougher
on most Brevard College students than
last year.
As a sophomore, I analyzed the
differences in this year compared to last
and I basically realized the differences
were due to an excess amount of stress.
College News Briefs
SNACK BAR OPEN WEEKENDS ?
The Snack Bar in Coltrane Commons will try opening on weekends for two
more weeks. Weekend hours are Sat. from 1-3 p.m. and Sun. from 4-7 p.m.
The amount of business during these hours will determine whether the
Snack Bar remains open on weekends.
CLARION CONCERT LINE
When:
Charlotte Coliseum
Nov. 27, 7:30 p.m.
Who;
Ticket
Bad Company
w/ Damn Yankees
Asheville Civic Center
Nov. 7 Kiss, Slaughter,
& Winger
Cost:
Sales: 1-800-543-3041
$18.50
$18.50
BC ANNOUNCES MADRIGAL DINNERS
Brevard College Choral Director Mark Nabholz, has announced plans
for the upcoming series of Christmas Madrigal Dinners, to be held on
December 6,7 & 8 in the Albert G. Myers cafeteria on the campus of
Brevard College. This is the second in what he hopes will become an annual
event.
"Last year's dinners were a great success, but there will oe^some
significant changes this year in the format, the music and the menu, says
Nabholz. "We'll be providing arrangements for reserved seating, which
should make it easier for a group of friends to attend the dinner together.
Nabholz says the program will be expanded and the menu has been
completely revised. "In short'" he says, "our goal is -bigger and better.’"
The number of seats available per night will be reduced this year from
200 to 125. Nabholz stresses the importance of making early reservations,
adding, "This should add to the atmosphere and character of the evemng.
Tickets for the event may be purchased in the Receptionists Offire m
Beam Administration Building. Tickets may also be ordered by mai y
picking up an order form from the receDtionisL
SPRING 1990-91 PRE-REGISTRATION
Pre-registration for Spring 1991 will be held in the
upstairs in McLarty-Goodson Nov. 12-15. Advisors wi ave ®
registration forms. All students are to make appointments o see
advisors before pre-registering.
PRE-REGISTRATION SCHEDULE:
Nov. 12-13 Pre-registration for 3rd, 4th and 5th semester students.
8:30 a.m.-12 p.m. and 1 p.m.-4:30 p.m.
Nov. 14-15 Pre-registration for first-year students.
8:30 a.m.-12 p.m. and 1 p.m.-4:30 p.m.
NOTE: To ensure equal opponunily. soidenis will be
tor only one P.E. eouise at a ume. Snidents
P£. will add additional courses after pre-egistration fo
“’""’S; regisTation fo, Con.n,.nicauons courses is Hn.i.ed .o
sophomores.
I can safely assume that I am not just
speaking for myself, either. Freshmen
are facing conflicts they probably
haven't had to experience in their lives
before Brevard College, so virtually
everyone is facing the evils of stress.
Hopefully my message will reach all of
you in some sort of way, and even help
those of you who have been looking for
ways to cope.
First of all, the College offers stress
management seminars. They arc headed
by Steve Martin, BC's college counselor
(A.K.A. "shoulder to cry on"). These
seminars may not be for some people,
might sound corny to others, but there
arc people out there who need this very
solution. Martin works with students in
group sessions, but can counsel
individually if preferred.
Secondly, Martin advises students to
use calendars. "One thing that causes
stress more than anything for some
people is all the deadlines that college
students have, and not keeping track."
he says. "Stress comes when they find a
test due in 20 minutes." Another thing
he suggests to reduce anxiety is to lake
at least 30 minutes for each meal. This
provides an essential relaxation period
during the course of the day and allows
food to be digested, producing energy.
Relationships cause major stress.
These include not only the boyfriend-
girlfriend thing, but roommate
situations and basic acquaintances. We
need to learn more about keeping our
perspective. If we let everything get us
down, it’s going to be too much to
handle. I'm not saying don't pay atten
tion to what bothers you, but work
through it and learn so that you may
apply it elsewhere.
It's come to my attention that we are
too quick to judge others before con
sidering how hypocritical we’re being.
Experts say the reason people criticize
others harshly is because the very faults
we find in ourselves are what we
condemn in others.
Let's think about how true that is.
Unfortunately, most of us compete in a
race for acceptance. It's rare to come
across an individual who doesn t care
what others think of them. If we were
all like that, imagine how unhappy and
lonely we would be -- for each of us
have so many warm and loving qualities
within us that should and need to be
shared.
Many limes, I tend to jump to
conclusions by evaluating a person s
character before getting to know them at
least a little. This is a fault many of us
have, whether we are conscious of it or
not By doing this, we are creating more
stress for ourselves than is necessary.
Even though we have to deal with some
#*!@# (because it's inevitable) why add
to our already inexplicable lives?
1 firmly believe that no one wants to
be miserable constantly. But some of us
bring stuff upon ourselves to the point
that it looks as if we do.
So how can we make this year a
happier one? Something ihat has helped
me: If I start to say something
derogatory, that I know I personally
won’t benefit from and neither will
anyone else, 1 try to stop myself. 1 don’t
want to ever deliberately hurt anyone’s
feelings, especially since I know I don't
like that same pain inflicted on me.
Something that has recently made an
impact on me is a verse called
Desiderata. Desiderata was found in
Baltimore on the wall of St. Paul's
church in 1692 and was popularized
during the peace movement of the late
'60s.
When I read this enlightening credo,
it makes so many of my trivial concerns
dissolve and helps me concentrate on a
level of consciousness higher than lhat
of a stressed out college student.
"Go placidly amid the noise and
haste, and remember what peace there
may be in silence. As far as possible
without surrender be on good terms with
all persons. Speak your truth quietly and
clearly, and listen to others, even the
dull and ignorant for they too have their
story. Avoid loud and aggressive
persons, they are vexations to the spirit.
If you compare yourself to others, you
may become vain and bitter, for always
there will be greater & lesser persons
than yourself Enjoy your achievements
as well as your plans. Keep interested in
your own career; however humble, it is
a real possession in the changing for
tunes of time. Exercise caution in your
business chairs, for the world is full of
trickery. But let this not blind you to
what virtue there is; many persons
strive for high ideals, and everywhere
life is full of heroism. Be yourself Espe
cially do not feign affection. Neither be
cynical about love, for in the face of all
aridity and disffichcuttpi^nl, it is os p€ten~
nial as the grass. Take kindly the coun-
sel of the years, gracefully surrendering
the things of youth. Nurture strength of
spirit to shield you in sudden misfor
tune. But do not distress yourself with
imaginings. Many fears are born of
fatigue & loneliness. Beyond a
wholesome discipline, be gentle with
yourself You are a child of the univer
se, no less than the trees and the stars:
you have a right to be here. And
whether or not it is clear to you, no
doubt the universe is unfolding as it
should. Therefore, be at peace with God,
whatever you conceive Him to be, and
whatever your labors & aspirations in
the noisy confusion of life keep peace
with your soul. With all its sham,
drudgery & broken dreams, it is still a
beautiful world. Be earful. Strive to be
happy.