I know what you’re thinking. They are a curse.

And they sure do feel like it during syllabus week, when the professor says those magic words: “Everyone say your name and a fun fact about yourself.”

Zoom goes my mind into fight-or-flight mode. It is silly to think that my palms get sweaty and my heart starts racing at an unhealthy rate over a … what? A fun fact.

When we think of nerves, it’s easy to interpret them as a burden, so let’s address the common bad first and get it out of the way.

Public speaking, interviews, Canvas grade-posted notifications, opening a “we need to talk” text, checking your bank account and, the ultimate fear: the future.

Phew, so glad that’s over.

Just like your outlook on life, if you focus on the negatives, that’s all you will see — and we all know as college students, we don’t have enough time to practice those bad habits, so let’s shift gears.

First, ask yourself — would my life be just as meaningful without my nerves? Or would it just be smaller?

The nervous system, comprising the brain, spinal cord and a vast network of nerves, is the body’s command center for responding to perceived threats.

These “perceived threats” are often mistaken with danger when they can be signals of new opportunities, excitement and growth. Anxiety and excitement have divergent effects on performance, yet their experiences are quite similar. They are both felt in anticipation of events and are characterized by high arousal, according to the American Psychological Association.

It can be hard to wrap your head around without examples — let’s dive into it.

First dates

Realistically, some of us have pregamed a date. If you haven’t, congrats — I kind of look up to you. I mean, really, not even a glass? I digress. For the ones who have, you’re trying to take the edge off. Why? Because first dates aren’t really about the other person, they are about your own identity.

You care — that’s not a bad thing. You care about how you are presenting yourself. You care about the possibility of being understood by the other. You care about the vulnerability it creates within you — this can be scary, but don’t forget that’s where the connection lies. All of the up-in-the-air winds and turmoiling in your brain create nerves, but those nerves mean that something is important enough for you to care — they don’t show up for the stuff that doesn’t.

Skydiving

The predominant reason why people jump out of planes is to feel alive. It’s not just about the view from 14,000 feet above ground — it’s the exhilarating thrill and adrenaline that remind people they are capable of doing scary things.

Without those cold feet before jumping off the plane, would you still get that same rush? What about once you’ve touched ground — would you be just as proud of yourself if you weren’t nervous at all in the first place? I’ve made my point.

Butterflies in your stomach

This has to be one of the best things known to mankind. It’s truly beautiful how your gut and brain are so connected that they can anticipate something meaningful.

Those butterflies in your stomach could have turned out for better or worse, especially romantically, but either way, you grew them. Even when you swear you aren’t ready to feel that flutter again, it always returns, giving you no choice but to move forward anyway.

Something you worked really hard on

The more time and effort you put into something, the more motivation the nerves give you to do better. Think of the last time you were proud of something — an exam, a speech, a friendship. The nail-biting nerves are signals of opportunities your body is preparing you for, because your body isn’t nervous of the task — it’s nervous about the outcomes.

The bottom line is — nerves show the life in you. They are gracious and powerful, especially in our generation full of nonchalant attitudes (that seriously needs to end, what happened to yearning?).

Nerves, like anything in life, are case-by-case. They can be just as harmful to an individual as they are beautiful, and I won’t deny that they can take a toll on your emotions, because I’ve felt it myself — but instead of focusing on the moments that bring you down, try focusing on the strength of the journey before, during and after they have passed.

It’s important to remember that you are supposed to be scared — it’s a normal reaction your body should feel. I know you have probably heard this a million times, but you are not alone. In 2025, an estimated 42.5 million U.S. adults are living with an anxiety disorder, according to the Los Angeles Outpatient Center.

Everyone has something to be nervous about, but the funny part about it is that nobody knows what’s going on in each other’s heads — we are students, not mind-readers.

Next time you feel your heart racing or your face turning red, take a deep breath and remember why you are nervous in the first place. I’m still learning new ways to control my nerves every day, but the more effort I put into finding comfort in the uncomfortable, the more I am confident in myself that I am capable — oh, and calling my hometown best friend, because I know she will make me laugh.

I urge you not to avoid the discomfort of being anxious or nervous, as this will only reinforce your belief that you cannot handle it. I know you’ve made it through every nerve-wracking thing in your life, because you are reading this. Have trust in yourself that you can do it again and even better.

I’m sure I and others will find something new to be nervous about by tomorrow, but I’ve grown to learn that I’ll take my racing heart over a quiet one any day, because that’s the biggest proof of life.

Veronica White is a junior at UT this year studying hospitality management. She can be reached at [email protected].

Columns and letters of The Daily Beacon are the views of the individual and do not necessarily reflect the views of the Beacon or the Beacon’s editorial staff.