It is easy to forget how fast life can simply get out of hand.

One moment you feel like you are on top of the world, then the next, you don’t want to get out of bed to go to class.

When people first come to college, they have these expectations as to how their college life is going to be for the next four years, and then slowly, the reality of things set in.

Now I don’t mean to be so negative here, which would be completely ironic to the purpose of what I’m writing here. These are just some of the truths that happen to almost every student, and that’s OK.

One things that some students seem to have the most trouble with is being able to know what kind of people and influences you want to have around you.

College is the place where you decide what kind of adult you are going to be.

This process can be broken do into how you act during your freshman, sophomore, junior and senior years.

People during their freshman year try to do almost everything that interests them, and they try to make as many friends as possible that they just tire themselves out.

Sophomore year things begin to simmer down and junior year, you have basically become an expert at how to manage your personal life.

Senior year is where you put everything together before you go out and move on with your adult life.

The most important thing students should learn during their four years here is to cut the negative out of their lives, whether it be friendships, habits or just learning to look at each day as not as bad as it may seem.

From my own personal experience, I will admit that during my first years at college, I had my share of negativity and it made those first two years completely difficult for me.

Most of this negativity came from people who I thought were my friends but were so concerned with themselves that it was almost shocking to me that these kind of people can even be so self-centered.

Everyone has to learn their own way to cut the negativity from their lives, and it’s not something that can be taught.

Sometimes you have to live through all of the bad times to see the good, and there is just no avoiding it.

Everyone deserves to live a happy life, but it takes time and hard work to get there.

You will meet people that are completely bad influences, you will date people who mistreat you and you will meet people who you don’t necessarily like, and all of that is just the way of life.

What matters is how you are able to come back from all of this.

Having unnecessary negativity makes your life difficult and makes every day seem like a bad one, but you can learn to cut the negativity from your life, one step at a time.

Luis Martinez is a senior journalism major. He can be reached at 581-2812 or lpmartinez@eiu.edu.