It is a common misconception to believe that when writing, you should avoid using clichés like the plague. I believe that point of view is neither here nor there, evident in my use of two clichés already in this column. In looking back on my four years at Penn State and compiling advice to pass on, I'd like to take this golden opportunity to prove that some clichés can actually be your friends.
A cliché can be a timeless piece of advice that has survived generation after generation. Some of these common expressions you've probably heard time and time again and dismissed as simply overused and trite, but in reality, they can actually serve as helpful decision making aides or convenient problem solving tools. Dedicated advocates will even go so far as to say that if advice you receive does not come from an area where there is a similar cliché already available, the advice is probably not worth listening to. I won't go that far, but I will ask you to take into consideration the following in relation to graduating from Penn State:
"Take time to stop and smell the roses." I know, I know, this is a pretty obvious one coming from a senior. But now that the weather is getting nice, if you have a free minute or two, take a slow walk across campus and really try to take in all the things you are too busy to notice as you pass by on your way to class in a hurry because you're running late or it's so cold you're afraid your blood might quit flowing if you stop moving. Bring out an old blanket from the back of the closet and waste a couple hours people watching in front of Old Main. Or, my personal favorite, grab a towel and some suntan lotion to lay out on the HUB lawn and cross your fingers you don't get hit by a Frisbee or trampled by a dog.
"A stitch in time saves nine." Now, I am not so naïve as to be unaware that procrastination is a college student's best friend. A rerun of Beverly Hills, 90210, a quick snack or even that mess in the corner of the room you've been meaning to clean up for weeks can serve as a great excuse for why not to do your work. But think about it, how many times have you wished you could go out with your friends but been forced to stay in since you put off writing that paper until the night before it was due? Remember on Monday, three days ago, when you sat around and watched television for four hours instead of studying for the test that's scheduled for tomorrow? Just think what you could be doing instead if you'd gotten a jump start on that work sooner -- or if you can't think of anything on your own that you'd rather be doing, see "Take time to stop and smell the roses" above.
"Don't put all your eggs in one basket." I can picture some of you rolling your eyes already, but relax; I've got proof to go with this one. For the past four years, I was convinced journalism was the field for me and I devoted my career at Penn State to what I thought was my obvious choice for future profession. Now, less than a month before graduation, I'm considering law school and becoming a lawyer -- a thought that never even came close to entering my mind prior to the past several weeks.
For those of you who think that you are set on the road to one specific goal and that goal only, do yourself a favor -- take a class in a subject that doesn't tie in with your major, but that interests you nonetheless. Try joining a club or taking part in an activity completely outside your realm of comfort. You may be pleasantly surprised.
"Live and learn." Sure, you're made mistakes in the past - newsflash - we all have. I guarantee there's been at least one, if not more than one (or in some cases, many, many more than one), time in the life of every single person alive today during which their greatest wish was to crawl into a hole and hide. So you gave the wrong answer in class -- so what? So you tripped and fell while walking in front of Pattee Library -- who cares? So you were talking about that cute guy in your class to your friend and he happened to be standing right behind you -- now you don't have to be nervous and act like a stammering idiot whenever he's around because now the ball's in his court. Every experience is one from which we can learn. How else will we ever grow and change if we are never faced with difficult or embarrassing situations? Think about it.
"Today is the first day of the rest of your life." What better outlook could you possibly have on the future? This cliché reminds you that every day is a new day and it's never too late to make changes in your life: to change your major, to try a new sport, to admit you were wrong. Don't be scared of what's to come because your future is in your own hands.
Take these five commonly used (or overused, depending on how you may interpret it) phrases as just a sampling of the advice available to you in the form of clichés.
Remember to enjoy your remaining time here at Penn State, and try not to take things too seriously because, after all, life is what happens when you're busy making other plans - c'mon, how else could I end but with another cliché?
