<p>I am a student that will be attending college.</p>
<p>not academics, but in general i seem to be worrying a lot for some reason. how can i make myself worryless and be a happy-go-lucky person? many times it seems like i am frowning!!</p>
<p>ahhh</p>
<p>without more specifics, my advice would be:</p>
<ol>
<li><p>Focus only on what you can control. When you start worrying about things that you can't control, try to realize the futility of this and refocus your energies elsewhere.</p></li>
<li><p>Distract yourself. It's hard to worry about things when your mind is completely consumed by something else. Play sports, join clubs, even watch a movie, or read a good book.</p></li>
<li><p>Talk it through. Sometimes, just knowing that there are other people around you who are feeling similarly helps a lot. Get with a friend and tell them how you feel.</p></li>
<li><p>Help others. I have found that nothing makes me realize how silly my problems are like seeing someone else in great need, and being able to help them out makes me more self-confident. This can be a formal thing, like volunteering at a hospital or soup kitchen, or can be more informal, like helping your grandma with some yardwork, or helping your little sister with math homework.</p></li>
<li><p>Get more sleep, exercise at least a little, and eat right. Not doing these things can mess with your head.</p></li>
<li><p>If none of the above make any difference, it might make sense for you to talk to someone you trust about this issue - everyone worries sometimes, but there are also people who need a little help with this. Some people have chemical imbalances or other problems with depression/anxiety that might require professional help.</p></li>
</ol>
<p>Be aware that it is normal to feel anxious about heading off to college. You are not alone. Many kids who may not show it have worries, too. So much will be new and different. But, if you feel your level of worry is excessive and is interfering too much with enjoying life, follow jenskates suggestions, especially number 6. Good luck.</p>
<p>What are you worrying about? Try to imagine if what you're worying about actually happens. What will be the outcome? What can you do to prevent this from happening? If the answer is "nothing", then why worry? I admit to being a chronic worrier, but I find that if I do what needs to be done when (or before) it needs to be done, I worry alot less.
Prepare yourself. Organize your life. Put on the music really loud and dance in your underwear (even thinking about that makes me smile!) While the music is still on, clean out a closet. (Your mom will love you for cleaning out the 8th grade math notebooks BEFORE you graduate from college!) Take the good used stuff to a shelter or charity. Stop for ice cream on the way home. </p>
<p>Make a conscious effort to smile.</p>
<p>Have friends over for a water fight like you did when you all were six and didn't have a care in the world. Remember that feeling?</p>
<p>If this advice seems silly and pointless, then find a parent or professional to talk to. Life's too short to not be happy. Good luck.</p>
<p>
[quote]
Try to imagine if what you're worying about actually happens. What will be the outcome?
[/quote]
This is a good question to ask yourself. In addition to thinking about it ADREW's way (ie, how can you prevent it), it can be quite valuable to picture the worst possible outcome of what you're worrying about. Picture it head on. Face it. Often it's not actually as bad as you worried about it when you let the worry be vague.</p>
<p><em>there's a better way that counselors word this advice, but I hope you get the idea</em></p>
<p>ADVICE Sought from parents-
What are you doing to help your rising senior relax? My D is anxious about her essays---which colleges to apply to--stretches-matches-safties(sp?)-She has researched it extensively, and has come up with 12-Is it even reasonable to be applying to so many schools? Your thoughts
I am trying to help her breathe.</p>
<p>Hi, APOL - If it is the essays that are stressing her right now, it often helps to get the one "master" essay underway (and then out of the way ;) ). The "master" essay can be the one for the common app (if she is applying to common app schools) or one that she can use, with maybe a little tweaking at more than one school. Things look a bit brighter when at least one <em>big</em> one is done.</p>
<p>As to whether 12 schools is a reasonable number, "it depends." How many of them are common app or have essays which can be recycled? How many really require intensive tailoring of her application to fit the school?</p>
<p>Some parents, myself included, do the clerical and administrative part of the process. I made S fill out the first app with all the basics - name, rank, serial number, hs courses, EC's, etc. etc. After that, I entered the info on other apps; kept track of SAT score ordering, deadlines, etc. This might help, if it seems to fit you and your D.</p>
<p>The other way to evaluate the number is how her list fits the "Parent Forum mantra." Are there reaches, matches and safeties she would really enjoy? Do the schools all fit her? (A "poor fit" list of 12 schools would be 8 Ivies, 3 top LACS and the safety of the kid's mega-huge in-state school where she would hate to go, for example).</p>
<p>If you would like to describe her list (specific schools or generic types) and get feedback, you can start a thread in the Parent Forum asking for comments on "the list."</p>
<p>Welcome; this is a great place for parents whose kids are beginning the process. Lots of knowledgeable posters and lots of support.</p>