I hated high school, and college is not much better.
High school was miserable because of the seven-hour days, half an hour lunches and the fluorescent lights you couldn’t seem to escape.
It felt like prison and the days were long due to after-school activities. High school responsibilities were no joke, yet adults laughed in your face and said: “wait until the real world.”
The first year of college was incredible for me; I found lifelong friends, went out of my comfort zone, and made memories every single day on campus. Most of all: I was out of high school.
Sure, I struggled with classes, but it all ended in laughter as a big joke with my friends. Missed a deadline? That’s so me. Failed a test? The professor didn’t know what they were doing anyway. None of it mattered to me. All I cared about was growing as a person and having fun.
Now all I care about is getting out of bed. For context, I am a sophomore.
College life lost its new sparkle. Everything seems tedious and pointless now. The classes I take still have nothing to do with my major, and there’s not enough time in the world for all of the homework I have. Keeping a job feels impossible, but leaving the job means I won’t have money to live. It never ends.
It feels like high school all over again. A prison you just can’t wait to get out of because the competing responsibilities stay with you each and every year you’re here: go to class, do homework, go to work, go to the gym, make dinner and the list goes on. The awe of something new has long since passed and I’m stuck with the settling reality that life is constantly this hard.
Of course, this is negativity speaking. There are many ways to combat these mid-semester blues. Some of these are within our control, others not so much.
Number one: it would be great if part-time jobs paid a livable wage. Now, I might be asking too much, but just a little bit more cash for a college student would change my life for the better. I could work less days and focus on my homework without worrying about my ability to buy food to survive.
Another way to make life seem a little more manageable is by making a schedule. Personally, I struggle very much to stick to a plan, but it’s never too late to make one now. With exams coming up, try to schedule study dates on a daily basis wherever you can. Make a morning routine where you can eat breakfast, drink water and get vitamin D in your system to feel more awake throughout the day. With daylight savings time, it’ll be easier to get to bed earlier as well.
Next semester is a new start as well. Maybe reevaluate your responsibilities, and if there’s anything to step back from— try it. It’s worth a shot. If it doesn’t work out, the summer is coming back to change things yet again.
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