We’re going to start this semester off with a pop quiz.

How unhealthy would you think the average college student is? How much of his or her liver do you think has clocked out because of a little too much drink? How many brain cells have called it quits because of a bit too much ganja weed? How trashed are their lungs from puffing away on cancer sticks? How little exercise do they get on a daily basis? Are they eating well?

I don’t know the answers. Why is that? I don’t have my finger on the pulse of the life of the average college student. Even more importantly, how do you define the average college student? Do they go out on Thirsty Thursday and get plastered, despite still having a Friday class? Do they constantly pull all-nighters? Do they sneak out to the Nature Preserve and pass around the ceremonial doobie? I don’t know.

But I know this much. I have a friend. He lives one floor below me. We met when he moved in at the beginning of last semester. Toward the end of the fall semester, he picked up the habit of smoking cigarettes. Within the last few days, he smoked his last — he’s going cold turkey. I spoke with him the other night and one thing that he’s pleased with is the return of a larger lung capacity. He’s still fighting the diminishing urge to walk over to the nearest gas station, buy a pack, stuff all the cigarettes in his gob and light up. However, he’s past the first few days of nicotine withdrawal and is over the worst of it. I applaud his efforts and the eventual fruits of his labor.

You’re probably asking yourself, “What is this columnist advocating?”

Me? I’m advocating the healthy lifestyle. Instead of scarfing down a greasy slice of pizza for lunch, you can swing by the salad bar for some leafy greens. Your arteries will sing in praise. Instead of going out and getting wasted or high, stay in and focus more on your work. Your brain will thank you later. Instead of sitting around on the computer when you have nothing to do, go for a walk or run, or head over to the gym for some exercise. The endorphins from exercising provide a feeling of well-being which is quite beneficial for productivity. Maybe you can even get started on that project you’ve been putting off.

But I’m not the perfect example. I’m flawed. I don’t hit up the salad bar every day, but I do my best to do it once a week. I haven’t gone to the gym on campus, but I get in my exercise walking and/or running to class. I don’t drink. And I don’t drugs, either. It’s my personal choice. You don’t have to follow my example. You can do what you want to your body.

We’re all flawed. We all make mistakes. If you want to piss away your hard-earned money and health, be my guest. Don’t say I didn’t warn you. Your body is a temple, so treat it like one; after all, it’s the only one you’ve got.