By Kirsten Nielsen

I have a large head. It's really actually bigger than it looks and until recently the only proof I had to offer people was that hats don't fit.

However, the other day while I was doing some research on the Internet I stumbled upon a site for wigs. Not too interesting unless you need a wig, but it did explain how to measure the size of your head. It turns out that I've been right all along, and according to their chart my head is a size Large. I also happen to be at the top of the "Large" scale with a 24-inch noggin. The average head size, that almost all hats are designed for, happens to be a mere 21 inches.

Fortunately, my head is not noticeably huge as I've got enough embarrassing rubbish to deal with as it is; like my inability to walk without tripping, or eat without spilling. Of course, this is a problem I share with a large company of klutzy people, which makes it a lot easier to live with.

For instance, I was walking to one of my classes and I happened to notice a girl across the way stumble as she was taking a sip of her coffee and splash it all over herself. I can completely relate; it was all I could do not to walk over and thank her.

Not that any of this is really a huge source of angst for me. I get plenty of stress through school without agonizing about how big my head is or what a unrefined person I am.

Speaking of school stress, a friend of mine was sitting in her Psych 1010 class, listening to the professor rattle off dates for upcoming quizzes, labs, and assignments, when suddenly one of the guys in her class walked up to the professor, hurled his textbook onto the stage (it's one of those big classes) with a loud thump, exclaimed "This book doesn't make any sense!", turned around, and walked out the door. The whole class, including the professor, sat there stunned, and a few people started clapping for the guy. I suppose it could have all been an elaborate ruse to get an extension: freak out, then go back and claim you've got manic depression, but my friend seems to think it was completely serious.

This got me thinking, at what point do college students finally snap? We all have our good days and bad days, and some of us are able to cope better than others, but when does it get so frustrating we start chucking books around?

The most obvious signs of stress I've seen so far have been pretty minor in comparison. There's the usual wide-eyed, frantic, last minute studying of notes on the bus, and I have heard many a nervous giggle while tests were being handed out, but as of yet I haven't seen a complete breakdown. I have seen a proposal already though, so I guess it's only a matter of time before I witness the complete collapse of some poor sap who's over-worked and under-rested. Not that I'm looking forward to it. I'm sure it'll scare me witless and I'll have to lie down for a few hours until I recover from the horror, but after hearing the stories I've heard, all I can do is hope it isn't me that goes to pieces.