It’s November, and the walk home from “Thirsty Thursday” escapades are made significantly unpleasant by the chill of 20-degree air. You wake up the next morning with your head pounding, body sore and nose running… congrats! You’re sick!
You’re a Zombie: Head stuffed up, your body aches; guttural moans and groans escape your frog-clogged throat. What do you do now? Students everywhere face the momentous decision of whether or not to go to class. Considering whether you’re paying in state or out of state tuition, each week of classes costs you either 90 or 180 dollars, so the decision should not be taken lightly.
So what are your options? PSU senior Jillian Spring said that when she’s sick, she generally tends to just suck it up. “As bad as it sounds, I tend to just grab a couple of bags of tea, my travel mug, some Advil, and head out,” said Spring. “I may be miserable, but I can’t really afford to miss class, particularly when professors require a doctor’s note for an excused absence.”
Other students are a little more unorthodox. PSU junior Josh Cooley suffered an impressive bout of the flu last March, and he advocates for you to “SLEEP as much as possible! I would not go out at all.” Furthermore, Cooley claims that he would also, “take a shower before each class, if I could. This would help me clear my sinuses and make me feel fresher for class.” These steps, along with a lot of Dayquil and Nyquil, helped him to cope with his illness.
PSU’s Student Body President and senior Bryan Funk offered a list of things that he would do to be sure he was ready for a full day of work even when a cold has him down. “The only option for footwear is moccasins,” said Funk. “There is nothing that makes you feel more warm, cozy and at home than those soft bundles of joy to slip your feet into.”
He went on to say that you need, “Comfy clothes: An old hoodie is preferable, as well as a winter hat. Looking like a rag-doll doesn’t really matter when you have to face the treachery of class while sick.” Funk was not the only one to address clothing and accessories. According to Cooley, he would change clothes as often as he could to make sure that he felt fresh for class. It’s necessary, he argued, considering how often the flu caused him to sweat!
But if comfy clothes and salubrious doses of head cold remedies don’t do it for you, there remains the questionable yet valid notion that a few shots of Bacardi 151 the night before a full course load (for those of you who are of age) might cure a bacterial infection or virus. The prior options, however, tend to be a bit more user-friendly and are less likely to leave you drooling on your neighbors couch.
Of course, if you truly are too sick to attend the Health Services Office on Merril Street is always ready to help you out. A final word of advice from Funk: “If you muscle your way to class and make it there only to find that you can’t make it all the way, I would highly suggest leaving. Your professor will respect the fact that you tried, other people in the class won’t get sick, and you may get off with an excused absence! If you aren’t feeling like you can make it, and the professor suggests you stay, I highly suggest sticking with your gut (as long as you can hold it).”