Eleanor Roosevelt once said, “Do one thing everyday that scares you.” This is a piece of advice that my mom, a big fan of the former first lady, has been telling me for as long as I can remember.

I think that living your life with this quote in mind helps you make the best out of it, especially in college. Whether you are a freshman or senior, college is a hugely significant time, filled with numerous opportunities, decisions to make and things to do. It is easy—as all my fellow seniors can probably attest to—to feel overwhelmed.

I know with my classes, thesis, internship, job and graduation looming over my head, there are days when I think it would be easier to just give up. But this is when Roosevelt’s advice is so important to remember. I think that part of what makes this advice so relevant is it’s emphasis on taking things one at a time.

“Do one thing every day that scares you.” This could mean a number of different things depending on the person, depending on where you are in your life and what things are “scariest” to you. Now, when Eleanor Roosevelt says “scary,” she’s not talking about Halloween scary or horror movie scary. When she says something that scares you, she is making reference to a range of things. It could be going to a professor’s office hours for help or finally starting that paper you’ve been putting off.

It’s only one thing. There’s so much going on in college that we can easily become bogged down in the day-to-day tasks that we are able to ignore the tasks that scare us most. However, I think keeping this quote in mind could benefit many students, not only here at Iona, but everywhere.

Just think: do one thing, whatever it is, every day. Not only have you completed a task, but you can also feel proud of that accomplishment and feel satisfied with your work that day. Instead of procrastinating when things get tough, choose one thing that scares you, and do it. Get it done.

Then, the next day, you have one less thing to worry about. There’s one less scary thing in your world, and you have an entire 24 hours to do one more thing.

To my fellow seniors: I know, personally, I’ve been panicking about what to do with my life after college. I frequently feel overwhelmed and confused. The thought of becoming “a real adult” and getting a job is unbelievable. I’m sure many of you feel this way too.

And the only thing that I know for sure, which can help in this truly terrifying time, is to take it one step at a time. One thing, one day, one scary moment, and then that is completed. Move on to the next thing.

Do whatever you have to do to make it through. Repeat Eleanor Roosevelt’s advice to yourself: “Do one thing everyday that scares you. One thing. Every day.” I have a sticky note on my computer screen with the quote in big, bold letters. Don’t forget this.

On another important note, remember to listen to your mom. Most of the time, she knows what she’s talking about.

To contact the Ionian’s Randa Kriss, e-mail her at [email protected]