Episode 7

Obviously I have been incredibly busy as I have not written in the past two months. So much for my goal of staying on top of this to help me process my life. Naturally, my life is in shambles. Today I submitted an assignment late (because I forgot about it) and I had a pop quiz (which wasn’t supposed to be a pop quiz, but I also forgot about that). So I am off to a great start for this semester. On top of that, I have a midterm next week that I haven’t even thought about and I am four chapters behind in my last class. I think you get the point and are most likely disinterested in my woes….

That being said, I am the happiest I have ever been. I am living. I am not allowing my anxiety to control my life. I am acknowledging that I have a lot to do, but I am not going to let it consume me. I spend an immense amount of time in the library, but it is about balance. I am still perfecting that concept, but I am proud of the progress I have made in the past year. I am feeling what needs to be felt. I am going out. I am laughing. I am eating. I am sleeping. I am being a human. I am making mistakes. I am learning.

And it is absolutely wonderful. I recommend getting a little behind in your work if it means that you can make some memories. As long as you are able to catch back up.

At the end of the day, studying all the time is miserable and you should let somethings go.

-Your local Duke Student

Episode 6

It is that time of year again- Finals. I study as I bob my head to Michael Bublé’s fantastic Christmas album. You should seriously check it out. I am obviously currently in the library procrastinating studying for my four finals (see previous post). I think it is ridiculous that professors leave most of our grades for the final week of the semester. I work my ass off all semester, but that is irrelevant if I don’t do well on the final. When the final exam is worth 45% of your grade, there is an unnecessary amount of stress that is added to your life. Does the rest of your hard work not matter? I mean, come on. The professors have to know that we are completely burnt out. Students are listening to their favorite Christmas albums and dreaming about being at home cuddling with their dog, sitting next to the fireplace. Definitely not speaking from experience….

As I go back to work, I have to remind myself that I absolutely love learning. School gives me opportunity to grow as an individual. I normally am reminded of how absolutely lucky I am to go to school like Duke when I walk past the Chapel.

At the end of the day when I gaze up at the gothic Chapel, I am overwhelmed with a feeling of appreciation and admiration. It is then that I realize that I have so much going for me.

So fuck finals and be grateful instead. That is what I am going to do.