If I hear one more person underestimate what I do in life, school or work, I think I might physically hurt that person. Students go through so many obstacles throughout their college careers that it’s sometimes hard to know what they go through.

The people we surround ourselves with see us stress over midterms, projects, 10-page papers, jobs, money, relationships and so much more. Still, some people expect just a tad bit more energy and attention to be devoted to them on top of everything else we students do.

Our friends want extra time, our parents want to see us more, our significant others want more quality time and our jobs want more productivity from us. But how can you expect someone else to actually understand what it is you are going through when that other person doesn’t deal with half the stuff you go through?

I have many friends I attend school with who understand the amount of work and determination needed in order to go through the trials and tribulations to continue successfully. But, there are other friends who don’t attend school and just don’t understand why I spend so much time on my education and wonder why I am always stressed.

Students have to deal with so much that sometimes we end up venting our frustrations to friends. But when we do, they don’t really understand what we’re going through, so it’s hard to communicate on the same level.

I constantly hear the same remarks from the same people who comment on my education, telling me I’m wasting my time and that working would help me advance in life faster than any diploma would.

Don’t get me wrong, I love my friends. But people who aren’t in school don’t understand what type of stress we go through. It’s a different lifestyle. Some people work 40-hour weeks by. Going to school, working, doing homework and spending time with friends and family equals to more than 40 hours a week. Underestimating what I do in my life angers me more than anything. How dare anyone belittle the hard work and determination I put into my life in order to advance myself further in this world.

Don’t let anyone make you feel bad about yourself for wanting to do better. People should understand that students go through a lot. You shouldn’t have to censor yourself when talking about school or work.

It’s downright stressful to try to keep up with your daily schedule and watch what you say at the same time.

“I constantly get ridiculed from friends who don’t go to school,” said undeclared sophomore Chris Martinez. “They just don’t know the stress and obstacles that I go through, especially since I work and go to school full time.”

People are always going to say something when it comes to your education or life. Many will never understand the time and effort that goes into each of those aspects of our lives. Let them stare, laugh, talk, gossip or make fun of the fact we are putting our lives into better use than they ever will. We’ll see who is laughing last when we’re rollin’ in the Benjamins while they’re stuck at a nine-to-five. Did that sting?

Rosa Pastran can be reached at [email protected]