Sometimes you hear something random from someone and it just sticks to you, like a yellow post-it note or a neon pink slinky hand. You don’t necessarily have to think about it all the time, but it’s just there, in a pocket of your mind. Often these are famous quotes from well known people the likes of Amelia Earhart and Martin Luther King Jr. Other times these quotes come from friends or family or even complete strangers. Most likely, the case is that whatever you heard was so memorable that it earned a spot in your mind.
One of my post-it note quotes comes from a 9th grade English teacher at my high school. On a foggy September morning, she waltzed through a hallway filled with groggy and slightly disheveled high school students. We were all waiting for our various classes when she proclaimed, “Hello young crickets! Listen to your favorite song today and do the little dance!” Just as soon as she had swept in, she was out the door and gone, leaving us to ponder what she had just said and whether or not we had collectively imagined it all. Maybe it was because I did indeed have a little dance, or that I had never previously been called a young cricket, but I pulled out my phone, opened up the notes app, and wrote it all down verbatim because I never wanted to forget that moment.
Well, as of now, we are well into our first semester of college. There have been tests and quizzes and labs galore, and there are inevitably going to be at least a dozen more before the end of the semester. I’ve realized how easy it is to get behind, and similarly how challenging it is to stay on top of things. And, to top it all off, midterms haven’t even started yet! With all this in mind, I finally understand what my high school’s English 9 teacher meant when she told us to do our little dances. Every student in that hallway was exhausted and running on near empty, and it was evident that we all could use some good music and a little bit of time away from the books.
Whether studying remotely or on campus, things are getting busier as this semester progresses. This makes it even more important to take breaks to reset. Taking a break can mean playing your favorite songs and dancing around the room. For me, it also means learning new songs on the guitar or piano. To some of my friends, taking a break means going on drives to scenic locations. It looks different for everyone. So if or when you start to get overwhelmed with school, take note of my favorite post-it quote and take a moment to listen to your favorite song and do the little dance.
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