Anna Dorsey | Staff Illustrator

If one of us was having a bad day in our high school days (washed-up grandpa over here), my best friend and I would refer to ourselves as a “juiced orange.” “Pulp” if it was really egregious. It was as if the force of impending deadlines, uncertain futures, or the timeless existential stress was taking our zest for life and ruthlessly draining it. 

This past year, I started referring to each task, instead of myself, as the orange. Rather than just getting through the day and feeling like my orange was intact, I looked for the sweet nectar elsewhere, drained it, and savored the full glass of juice. This reframing not only helped me feel more in control, it also helped me find and enjoy the sweeter things. So, here’s my step-by-step guide on how to most effectively juice the plumpest oranges.

1. Pick the right orange

If you’ve ever been fruit picking, you know it’s tempting to pick just about every fruit in sight. But when you get to the scale, you don’t want to be paying for fruit that’s not quite ready or munching on some bitter slices during your next lunch. So be selective about what you choose to pluck from the vine or the tree or … you get the point.

Not every orange can come from the highest or lowest branch. It’s the variety that helps us. This semester, I reached for a high branch with exciting writing-intensive courses I was a little reluctant to take. At the same time, my basket also had a low-hanging intro level course from within my major. I know I didn’t want to exert all my energy reaching; I need some for later in the juicing process.

2. Wash it right off

With any orange, it’s inevitable to encounter some grime. The first bad grade in a difficult class, the post-winter break awkwardness as we defrost friendships, the sixth inning migraine — it happens. This grime calls for a rinse. Sometimes it’s as easy as pointing it out and letting it roll off your back. Other times, you have to put a little elbow grease into it. Going to office hours, asking your friend to hang out first, or popping that Advil are all ordinary steps of the washing process.

3. Choose a knife

At first glance, this sounds violent, but I promise it’s a mere matter of pragmatism. With anything, you need a plan of attack. WashU feels like the world’s plumpest orange. It’s filled to the brim with opportunities in every corner. I want to juice every day for what it’s worth, and doing so requires being aware of my approach. For me, that usually just means talking a lot. I chat up a storm with my classmates, professors, and random neighbors. Those conversations have helped me click start on my goals. It was through a random conversation with a friend that I found out about my favorite class I’m taking now with the professor I consider my mentor.

4. Squeeze that citrus

Making the most of something rarely, if ever, refers to a singular cut. The first incision can be the hardest, but continuing through is often the most laborious and rewarding part. Whether it’s pushing through the difficult middle chunk of the semester weeks of math class or continuing to think of choreography when you’ve put all your best moves in the first two minutes, the point where you keep plowing ahead is the clenched fist on the rind. Continuing to squeeze to get every last drop can be exhausting, but it leads to long-lasting growth. 

I encountered this stubborn squeeze during my college transfer applications. I was energized at first by all the possibilities, but mounting essays and what felt like a gazillion logistical tasks were tiring and demoralizing a month in. Steaming ahead during that period granted me the realization that I could more than get through the daunting tasks and eventually drink the sweet juice. 

5. Gulp down the pulp

Not every moment is 100%, refined juice. Sometimes the orange juice is cluttered with white sprinkles of pulp. Yes, a pulpless, perfect glass of juice — the job acceptance we’ve been crossing our fingers for, the signed lease, the exam grade we dreamed of — is the sweetest. And that pulpy fiber can be bothersome. We don’t want to have to do a third round interview or drive in person to sign the lease or take a two-part exam. But, those annoyances add nutrients that only make us better equipped for the next fruit. The pulpy fibers are filled with learning moments, however uncomfortable. The rejected interview leads to a renewed approach in the next application. The bombed test reminds us of what we didn’t learn the first time around.  

6. Sit down and enjoy the glass

When good things happen, I’m tempted to keep looking forward. I let myself be excited and jump around, but an hour later I’m looking for the next thing. When I accepted my on-campus job, I was eager to immediately move into the onboarding process. Now, I’m working on letting myself soak in the joy of realizing a long-term goal. So, kick up your legs, take the world’s smallest sips, and relish in the juice. You earned it.