Jim Carrey was recently in the charming film “Yes Man.” It’s about a movement to say “yes” to everything. While the film is certainly worth watching (for those old enough for the content), and the overall meaning is positive, there is a definite danger to the word “yes” when it comes to college. One of the best pieces of advice you’ll ever receive is “get involved: early and often.” College is necessarily a transition for most traditional students. You’re moving away from the ever-watchful eye of parental supervision and into a different environment that involves a certain amount of maturity and responsibility (despite what the “college movies” might entertainingly/offensively depict). While getting involved is important and imperative you must also remember that one of your main purposes is to obtain a degree at the end of your years (and dollars) spent during college. This is where “no” becomes important.
Because… sometimes you just need to say “no.” If you’ve been reading the Education Posts with any frequency you’ll remember my ongoing struggles with technologies and the people that manage them. Guess what: I said “no.” I’m done trying to use and fix systems that don’t work. I’m done talking to people who won’t solve my problems or empower me to solve them myself. Saying “no” has fixed my problem. In a more general sense you may find yourself deciding between obligations to friends (a poker night, fixing a computer, a sorority meeting) and homework or reading due the next day. How do you decide? You have to say “no” to something. If you find yourself constantly trying to do EVERYTHING you’re bound to lose your mind (and a lot of sleep). You can try to get more efficient… but saying “no” is really useful. We’ll explore this more in the future. At the moment you would do good to examine what you’re saying “yes” to that prevents you from saying “yes” to the things you need to do and later regret not doing.