Starting my freshman year, I had an obsession to excel in my academics. I became a perfectionist to the point of destroying my health. My close friends and family will tell you that I spun out of control and that my grade point average didn’t mean anything to them when they got a call that I was in the hospital from stress.

Since then, I was able to calm down, prioritize and even enjoy my last two years here. With the swine flu on the campus, and illness around every corner, I am reminded of the way I used to be and what is really important… your health.

I cannot tell you the amount of times I have said I can’t afford to get sick right now. As illness has strategically taken out two of my roommates, I stayed away from my house at all costs to reassure myself that I can make it through the rest of this term without missing a class and falling behind. I put such a stress on remaining healthy because I went to school unhealthy for so many years.

While your grades, projects and jobs are imperative to getting the career of your dreams after college, it is not the most important thing. I think most will agree that remaining healthy should be your number one priority at all times. I quickly get lost trying to stay afloat with all of the tasks that I have taken on, and so I think if I get sick it will be the end of my life because I may not get an “A” in my religion class.

That is not the case. If we all continue to work ourselves into the ground, we are going to have a lot more to worry about than writing a research paper or taking an exam. The stress we are under can actually affect your immune system and leave you vulnerable to illness. If you do not have your health, you do not have anything. I know this because I have lived it.

So as the term is winding down and the projects, papers and exams pile up, make sure to take time to eat right, sanitize, get the sleep necessary and stay healthy. You’ll be truly sorry if you don’t.