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Jimmy
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Adam
Broder |
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Michael
Caamic |
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Paula
Carter |
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Bill
Cleeland |
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Tony
Gallagher |
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Amanda
Grish |
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Michael
Gunderson |
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Matt
Hanley |
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Chip
Hosken |
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Dave
Obuchowski |
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Tara
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Michael
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Mary
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Beatrice
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Crystal
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Conquering
class with cough drops
I do not like being sick — not as if anyone truly
enjoys it. Your body is in a state of suspended animation, and simultaneously
dealing with school does not make the situation any easier.
Recently I experienced my own bout of fighting the germies along with
many others on campus. After signs of the first few symptoms, I broke
into my storage of tissues. I searched my room until I located every
decongestant, cold medicine or general drug that I thought could fix
me. At this point, I just waited, and mentally prepared to deal with
the next few unbearable days.
Even though we all have our time to get sick, we do not always treat
those who are ill nicely when we are well. Case in point: The other
day I was outside waiting for a bus. I paused to blow my nose as I
was standing near another guy at the stop. As I blew, he turned to
face me, momentarily stared and then turned back to return to his
cell-phone call. I thought to myself, "I know he has heard someone
blow their nose before. Why in the world did he have to look at me
like that?" Then I relaxed and made myself calm down. I was getting
all excited over nothing and it was making my head hurt. All of the
medications were giving me a cloudy mind effect and every thought
made it throb.
When I bought cough drops at a local convenience store, I noticed
that everyone had been buying my particular selection. I jokingly
asked the clerk if the store had raised the price because of the popularity.
He didn't really say anything, and I realized why when I got home.
My curiosity led me to peel off the top price tag and discover a lower
price under the current tag. What a way to make my day. Kick me while
I'm down, please, once more.
Occasions like this make me wish I was half my age. Being sick back
in the grammar-school days was less hectic. My responsibilities were
limited to sitting and doing nothing. Bouncing back from the sickness
and feeling better were the most important issues at the time.
Getting sick at college is a problem that you are left to solve on
your own. No one really volunteers to nurse you back to health. The
people you usually call your friends become germophobic and roommates
begin to act like you are carrying a strain of the plague. They only
approach your proximity to spray the area you have just touched with
Lysol. Your living space is no longer your room but affectionately
called the "den of sick."
There are no sick days in college. Considering "student" as an occupation
only goes as far as your credit-card application. We have all learned
too well that you need to get your tuition's worth, so you are going
to go to class. Like preparing for battle, you ready yourself for
the outside world. Your objective: challenge your body to survive
another class period. Your supplies: a stash of tissues in your bag,
cough drops in your pockets and the silent hope that the class will
just be canceled.
Being sick is an experience that we can all share — whenever we open
doors, get on buses or drink from one another's glasses.
Never fear, fellow head-and-chest congested folk. The weekend is near,
but no partying for you other than a hot date with your humidifier.
Hang in there; relief will eventually be on its way. Let us all raise
our bottles of Nyquil and toast to our good health.
Beatrice Tetteh is a senior in LAS. Her column appears on alternate
Fridays. She can be reached at opinions@dailyillini.com
Read more of Beatrice Tetteh's
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