Should I go to school sick?

No. Let me repeat that, No.

Classrooms are enclosed germ capsules. Everything from the doorknob you touched to enter the room to the desk you sit at has germs on it. I’m not trying to freak you out but college (and high school) are cold and flu havens.

Missing a day or two of classes in order to get some rest, fluids and possibly hold down some food is a small sacrifice compared to coming down with the all-out, full-blown super-flu that is not only making humans miserable, it’s also taking lives. That’s right, you can DIE from the flu. When you look at it from that perspective, missing a few days is much better than missing weeks of school or even death. Hard to graduate dead.

From a personal experience last term, I learned not caring for one’s health has bad consequences. From Thanksgiving break through the end of the fall term in December, I was sick. Not just the sniffles or a cough but projectile vomiting, extreme pain in my stomach and fevers that came and went.

I missed the entire last week of classes which included three finals. That should have struck me to the bones in panic but I was so ill, I didn’t even realize I missed my finals. In and out of the hospital, trying to keep hydrated and stomach food…it’s a blur.

The good news is, once I recovered, I was permitted to make up all my finals without penalty. I’ve found that professors care more about your health then a test score. Even during finals week. So if your stomach is upset, your running a fever, vomiting, sneezing and/or coughing, stay home or in your dorm. Avoid spreading your germs to your family or roommates. Wash your hands very often and don’t touch your face. You would be amazed how often you touch your face without thought.

Don’t believe me…watch someone else and count how often they touch their face.

Keep the flu out of school!
~Pattie