Let me just start off by saying I love my major. I’m incredibly happy studying chemical engineering, and feel like my coursework is truly preparing me for my future professional career. That being said, once in a while, I need a break. I’m sure you all know what I mean; even your favorite hobbies or the most interesting subjects get repetitive after a while, and you need to do something else to feel refreshed, get inspired, or just stay sane.
For me, that break is music. Even though I haven’t taken lessons in years, music is still my way to take a break from everything, and just be able to come to my senses and relax. I always bring my guitar with me to school, and whenever I need a quick break from energy balances or differential equations, it’s there waiting for me. It’s healthy to exercise the artistic and creative parts of your personality once in a while, especially if your major doesn’t directly force you to do so. More importantly, it makes me a well-rounded person, which is part of what USC is all about.

Taking a break
Whatever your situation, it’s important to take a break every now and then. For you, it might not be music, but playing sports, watching some TV, or just having coffee with some friends. As engineering students, we’re all busy. But no matter how many midterms you need to study for our design teams you’re working with, you still need food, sleep, and peace of mind. So I guess the point I’m getting at is that just because we’re busy doesn’t mean we can forget to take care of ourselves. In fact, because we’re so busy, it’s even more important to make sure we do so. So make sure to get your rest, stay healthy, and enjoy the little things in life. Listen to some music, and talk to your friends – even if you can only afford a few minutes. After all, life moves pretty fast. If you don’t stop and look around once in awhile, you could miss it.
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