A lot of these blog entries are about stress. And I don’t know anyone who would have the audacity to claim that the Uni experience can’t at times be quite … overwhelming.

So rather than doing anything logical, like trying to examine the root of the problems, I am going to take this space and medium to explore different COPING MECHANISMS! Yeah!!!

1. Listen to Music

You might see a lot of people wearing blue today — more than usual. That's because supporters of Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama have declared Sept. 30 to be Obama Blue Day.

It's everywhere I go. Teachers, relatives, friends, even books and the media remind me of it day after day, and there’s no escaping it.

This summer I read the most amazing book, "As You Were Saying," a collection of short stories by American and French authors.

Not long ago, films and the “film experience” were considered superior to watching television. Not anymore. In the last few years the best TV shows often outshined the best movies.

To be honest, it has been a really frustrating couple of weeks. For a while I have been nothing but stressed and tired. Being sick Sunday, Monday, and Tuesday didn't really help. By Wednesday I wasn't exactly holding on to much hope.

There are many things that I would say are crazy: sledding backwards down a hill studded with trees in the dark, winning a jalapeño eating contest, etc. Last summer I found something to add to my "crazy list," the Ironman.

I found out about GoodSearch.com last school year in January, when Julie Dietz, a Uni parent, sent out a schoolwide email encouraging the Uni community to raise money in what had to be the easiest way possible.

Regardless of whom you would vote for, you can’t deny that Barack Obama has energized a process that is boring to many and seemingly nonexistent to some.

As a student I've frequently found myself asking, "Which do I care more about, the grade or learning?"

As much as I would love to answer, "The learning, of course," I think that I truthfully care more about my grade more than actually learning the material.

The third Thursday of every month, nearly 200 low-income and impoverished families and individuals (representing more than 500 benefiting from the services) line up at the doors of Urbana’s Wesley United Methodist Church, the first arriving as early as 10 in the morning, the last dispersing at around 8 p.m.

What do you want to be when you grow up?

Almost everybody has been asked this question at some point, often more than once. When you were younger, your answers were probably vague and heavily influenced by what you saw on television.

The world revolves around how we look. You may think I'm living off in "Barbieland," but the truth is that how we present ourselves reflects a lot on how the world thinks of us. A tall blonde college student in a hot pink blouse and high heels doesn't scream math genius. And the new short kid who wears bow ties to class every day isn't the first person you're going to ask about the social scene.

I was lazing around on the couch in the lounge after eighth-period PE on Friday when Assistant Director Sue Kovacs comes in, loudly proclaiming one thing: SIEBEL IS CLOSED.

*Awesome … No more Anatomy & Physiology for a month …*

High school students in general — but Uni students specifically — have a lot to worry about. I know I do. Will I get into the architecture program of my dreams? When will my braces ever come off? How will I pay for college? Will I run a good time at my next meet? Will I do well in my SAT, ACT, and all the other myriad of tests that I will have to endure?