MATTHEW BAUM
Staff Scallywag
Everyone loves Joseph Marciniak. He’s talented, he’s muscle-bound, he has a great head of hair, but he has a problem: he’s got too much going on.
For those who don’t know, Marciniak is the editor of the Scallion, the assistant director of an upcoming production of A Midsummer Night’s Dream (this weekend, go to the ticket office to reserve a seat) and he was recently cast in the Working Hands Theatre Collaborative production of Bad Jews.
[RELATED: Hi everyone, it’s me, the editor of the Scallion…]
These are all incredibly exciting things in his career, and they are projects he is passionate about; however, when he was asked about his busy schedule, he let out a sigh of aggravation and slumped his shoulders.
“Yeah, I’m glad I’m a part of so many awesome things, but I never have time for me anymore,” he said. “All of the things I’ve signed up for have time requirements, and I find myself running from one thing to the next. It’s exhausting.”
Marciniak is not alone in this struggle. Every semester, hundreds of students here at Fredonia are a bit too ambitious with their desire to fill the day, and end up living in a state of stress caused by things that make them feel good about themselves. As problems go, it’s a fairly harmless one at its conception, but the vile effects only multiply as the stress remains unresolved.
Theresa Bigaz-Deare, a sophomore accounting major with a minor in film production, is involved with an off-campus choir that meets six times a week, as well as being a co-founder of the Fredonia Soft Serve Appreciation Society.
When Staff Scallywag Matthew Baum caught up to her, she grabbed his arm whilst speedwalking to get to her carpool.
“I’m so glad you’re sharing my story,” she said without bothering to pick up the various papers fluttering out of her half-open backpack. “Everywhere I go, I have to speed walk, because I can’t afford to walk at a normal speed, but I can’t risk losing my breath before I get where I have to be. My calves are jacked as a result, but I wish I could go back to my life as someone who can just go places at a normal pace.”
This semester, look out for the people in your life who might be making too many good decisions for themselves. It’s important to stay busy, but it’s also important to maintain some semblance of sanity.