The semester is quickly coming to an end. Even if you aren’t involved in any extracurricular activities, this time of year means more work and less free time to do it.
‘ I’m more than a little stressed out, but I’ve always found comfort in the advice of others’mdash;especially those more experienced in life than I.

So, for those of you who are in my boat, I’m here to offer a little advice from some of my favorite writers sprinkled with some wisdom I’ve picked up.

Let me first introduce Baz Luhrmann (director of ‘Moulin Rouge!’) who adapted Mary Schmich’s essay ‘Wear Sunscreen’ into a notable song that I will reference:

‘If I could offer you only one tip for the future, sunscreen would be it.’

The long term benefits of sunscreen have been proved by scientists, whereas the rest of my advice has no basis more reliable than my own meandering experience.’ I will dispense this advice now.

Enjoy the power and beauty of your youth, oh never mind, you will not understand the power and beauty of your youth until they’ve faded.

But trust me, in 20 years you’ll look back at photos of yourself and recall in a way you can’t grasp now, how much possibility lay before you and how fabulous you really looked, you are not as fat as you imagine’hellip;

Do not read beauty magazines, they will only make you feel ugly.’

This means a lot to me.’ Perhaps, it’s because I’m young.’

Or, I can relate because I’m a female and we tend to worry about our body image a little more than the average male.

However, I do know that I am so much more productive, not to mention happier, on the days that I have confidence in my body.

Find your confidence.

If Wednesday is going to be rough and you’ll be lucky to make it out in one piece, wear your favorite shirt.

Put on those shoes that make you walk a little taller. Style your hair to knock the socks off anyone.

Trust me, doing one or a combination of these things will definitely help you to get the ‘bring it on, world’ mindset that will help you get work done and relieve some stress.

‘ ‘Don’t worry about the future, or worry, but know that worrying is as effective as trying to solve an algebra equation by chewing bubblegum.’

The real troubles in your life are apt to be things that never crossed your worried mind, the kind that blindside you at 4 p.m. on some idle Tuesday’hellip;

Don’t feel guilty if you don’t know what you want to do with your life, the most interesting people I know didn’t know at 22 what they wanted to do with their lives, some of the most interesting 40 year olds I know still don’t’hellip;

Maybe you’ll marry, maybe you won’t, maybe you’ll have children, maybe you won’t, maybe you’ll divorce at 40, maybe you’ll dance the funky chicken on your 75 wedding anniversary.’

Whatever you do, don’t congratulate yourself too much or berate yourself either.’ Your choices are half chance, so are everybody else’s’hellip;’

College is preparation for the future. It is not the definition of your future.’

It simply provides some contextual tools to ready you for your chosen path.

There is no map to show you where or when there will be forks, roundabouts or potholes. Just take a deep breath, look at your options, take a minute to think and make a choice.

Brighten up and put on a smile. The semester is almost over!

You can do it! We’ll end on a lovely note from Luhrmann:

‘Be careful whose advice you buy, but, be patient with those who supply it.

Advice is a form of nostalgia, dispensing it is a way of fishing the past from the disposal, wiping it off,’ painting over the ugly parts and recycling it for more than it’s worth.

But trust me on the sunscreen’

Jessica Fontaine may be reached at jfontaine@ut.edu.

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