I was browsing the Yahoo News headlines when I came across this one, AP poll: Most students stressed, some depressed. All I can say is, "Duh!"

According to the article, students reported low energy levels and an overall feeling of hopelessness. As a member of this generation, I can say that I'm not surprised. I don't mean to sound like a Debbie Downer or a Negative Nancy, but there are ton of stressful things for people our age (or for people of any age, for that matter):

• normal schoolwork load: classes, tests, papers, final exams, grades, GPAs
  
• rising tuition, but absolutely no money coming in
  
• parents losing jobs
• fear of not getting a job after graduation
• being broke in general
• saying goodbye to friends/lovers/people who owe you money/people whose faces you recognize but whose names you can't remember, etc. for the summer (or forever)
• having to be a grownup eventually
• metabolism noticeably slowing down
  
• realizing that this is as tall as you'll ever get (ok. maybe that's just me.)

The article said that these things can lead to deeper emotional problems, like clinical depression. That really sucks. For anyone who feels that way, hang in there and find someone you trust to talk to. Like I said, I don't want to sound too much like a Debbie Downer, so here are some awesome things about being a college student:

• being an adult, but not necessarily a grownup
  
• having an excuse to party any day of the week
• staying up late every night
• living off of Easy Mac and pizza
• eating cereal for breakfast, lunch, dinner and midnight snack
• tons of energy
• living in your jeans and university sweatshirt
• having your whole life ahead of you

Well, there you have it. I don't know if the positives necessarily outweigh the negatives, but you've got to "Ac-cent-tchu-ate the positive and eliminate the negative..."