The Cauldron

Approximately 80 percent of America's citizens are distressed about the state of the economy and its repercussions on their pocketbooks according to a recent American Psychological Association (APA) survey. Cleveland State students and Northeast Ohio residents in particular are no stranger to these sentiments.

Anxiety is abound year-round if you're a college student swept up in the whirlwind of America's sad economic times. With Northeast Ohio as the arguable epicenter of this "Main Street" financial typhoon, students of all stripes need to brace for a tidal wave.

We are here to help.

With the advent of The Cauldron's new advice column, Cleveland State students will be in a unique position to air their grievances and vent some of the frustration they might be feeling (e-mail us at cauldronadvice@gmail. com). Handling the havoc of a scholarly life is easier said than done though.

What can we do to prepare before that perfect storm of undergraduate unrest kicks in? Options exist.

Let's acknowledge what's known: Cleveland State isn't the average university milieu. Most Cleveland State students have full to part time jobs to pay for their tuition, and many only attend the university on a part-time basis. 65 percent of students meet financial aid needs through loans and jobs according to collegeboard.com. 35 percent are awarded scholarships and grants.

Given the significant amount of us that work full time or at more than one part-time job in addition to internships and other enterprises, establishing consistently good habits is a must. In the midst of multiple jobs and an internship, I've become a recent convert to the wisdom of rigorous time management.

Managing time means learning your own routine. Armed with a Moleskine notebook, PDA, cell phone, or academic organizer, each evening should present an opportunity to diagram the next day's routine including job hours, college studies, class times, mealtime, exercise and sleep. These are the vital requirements we have to juggle, balance and prioritize. After you have prioritized your obligations, prepare for any overlaps. Given there is time left over after these pressing needs, you can consider yourself liberated.

Life doesn't have to be all work and no play during the period we are supposed to call the best years of our lives. Students need time to let loose. Let's plan for it.

Time management devotees and workaholics alike should devote at least half an hour a day (or what can be spared) to valuable personal objectives. For some this may include activities like exercise and time with friends, for others it may just be time to meditate and reflect on what comes next.

Aggressive time management also requires a willingness to refuse. Giving the nix to superfluous constraints placed on your time from outside individuals or interests is all part of having a firm commitment to overcoming obstacles and safeguarding your own affairs.

If a person walks down every avenue in their neighborhood on their way to a destination, how will they ever arrive there?

I may never learn to overcome all stress. With unwavering dedication and perhaps a bit of providence, Cleveland State students and Northeast Ohio residents in particular may be able to navigate through and maneuver around these hard times.

This week's advice column question is:

How is the financial crisis most affecting your college career?

E-mail your concerns, difficulties and crises to cauldronadvice@gmail.com.

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