College Student

I'm a college student.

Somewhere between a junior and senior.

I wanna teach, love, mold, and help little kids.

But there is a lot to do before I student teach.

Stress as become the norm for me.

Currently, I have:

a full class load of 18 credits;

homework for all those credits;

2 jobs: 15-20 hrs a week;

half marathon training;

social life; family time;

eating; sleeping;

stressing.

I'm at my maximum capacity for what I can handle.

I love everything I do though - seriously I do!

Therefore, next semester - the work load stays the same.

I love my classes and enjoy growing and learning.

I love my jobs [supervisor in Admissions and babysitting].

I love the things I do in my down time.

I love that I'm doing this half marathon because

running is my stress reliever, and I need lots of that!

I love my nights of just enough sleep.

I love the time with friends and family.

But it can be a little bit much and overwhelming.

I have to do a lot for my major outside of the classroom.

Reading to children, tutor, teach, practice lessons,

make a lot of contacts with teachers, observe a million hours in schools,

take lots of tests for the state, figure out my classes,

and determine where in the world I want to do my student teaching.

[Literally: because I'm student teaching overseas for 6 weeks in 1 year.]

However, I had very different worries my freshman year.

Who I would be friends with, when I'd see my boyfriend,

when I'd see my family, how I'd get around with no car,

how to get out of a horrible rooming situation [no luck but now I get it],

how to adjust to life away from home and my life I grew up,

what church to go to, how to write papers,

how to get all my reading done...blah blah blah.

I thought I was weird and strange for feeling depressed and alone.

However, that is quite normal for college students [especially freshies]

Here are some facts I found here:

-85% of students reported feeling stressed daily

-52% of college females reported feeling overwhelming anxiety

[17% higher than college men]

-84% of college females reported feeling exhausted

[not from physical activity and again 17% higher than men]

-Prescriptions for sleeping meds tripled among college age user from 98-06

-Academic work and grades are the top stresses for students

And over here I found this little bit of information:

"Researchers say severe mental illness is more common

among college students than a decade ago, with most young

people seeking treatment for depression and anxiety."

This website and this one are wonderful as well.

You're probably saying... "So what?!"

Well for some of you - that might explain your stress.

For me - I've learned what I can handle and how to release stress.

I can handle what I currently have - no more.

I have to run regularly or I'm a basket-case and stressed monster.

Dealing with stress is part of life.

There is always gonna be something that stresses you out.

So learn while you can how to handle it.

Seek out help and don'e be afraid of the help.

I'm not sure where this post came from to be honest.

But I know a lot of freshies dealing with this,

and I wanted to show you that it is normal.

But don't let that stop you from seeking out help.

Even going to someone to talk to might help.

Okay enough of that.

Clothes tomorrow :) or something like that!

PS. This is what I did with another pumpkin!
A girl can never have enough glitter in her life :)

AND

Today is my brother's birthday!!!

Happy Birthday Jared :)

can't wait to celebrate together!

miss you and love you!

Enjoy some pictures of the cutest siblings ever!

 Christmas 1993

 Chilling with Dad 1993

Family Picture 1994 or 1995

Homecoming 2008

 Cross Country 2008

 My Graduation 2009

 Fall 2008

 Winter Ball 2008

 St. John 2010

 St. Thomas 2010

 Jared's Grad Party 2011

 Jared's Graduation 2011

 Moving me into college 2009

 Junior Prom 2010

Senior Prom 2010

You the best little bro! Happy Birthday - live it up!