The Semester of Stress, The Mayo Clinic, and Burn Out.

Fall Semester 2017 has been the longest, hardest, and craziest semester of my life.

This last month has been absolutely insane, busy, and emotional. I overdid my school workload, 19 credit hours is way too much – I definitely don’t recommend it. Between trying to balance my health, my education, and my job I’m not sure I can keep my head on straight. I am completely burnt out, drained, and worn out.

Over the last month I prepared to go to the Mayo Clinic to get a second opinion on my Ulcerative Colitis. While preparing for my trip, I had to keep up with my current coursework and finish my coursework for the following 2 weeks. That included presentations, exams, projects, and the crummy busywork that every teacher tacks on to your week. I was definitely maxed out on stress between trying to finish my assignments and worrying about having to go to the Mayo Clinic.

The Mayo Clinic was a long four days.

A rough few days, but answered a lot of questions and eased my mind on the unknown. Now that I’m back from Minnesota and Thanksgiving break is over, I’m sitting on my couch thinking about the last 3 weeks of my semester… and I’m 100% dreading it. I feel more burnt out than I ever have before. I am currently sitting on a 3.9 for the semester so I shouldn’t have anything to worry about, right? I have 2 weeks of regular class and then 2 days of finals. I don’t have a single cumulative exam (YAY), just a few unit exams and a presentation, so it should really be no big deal.

Although I know the rest of this semester shouldn’t be a huge concern, I feel like all I want to do is drop out and quit. I am completely over school, over pointless classes, and dreading the last year and a half of my college education. Which really stinks. I have always loved school and now I feel like it’s the biggest burden on my shoulders. I have over extended myself to the point of no return and I have nothing left in me to offer.

Okay, so that last sentence might have been a tad over dramatic, but nonetheless that’s how I currently feel.

I know that the semester is creeping up to an end for a lot of you guys out there. If you feel any of the things that I’m currently feeling then know that you aren’t the only one and I’m wishing you the best of luck. Keep on keeping on!

Also, don’t forget that although life is consuming you right now things will eventually start to calm down and feel normal again. I am hoping and praying that the next 3 weeks flies by and none of my professors add on any “surprise” projects. Even if they do, I know that once the semester is over it will be nothing but relaxation, family fun, and an opportunity to give my brain a rest. Life might seem like it’s dragging out and utterly painful but while writing this posted I remembered something…

Life will go in and out of shambles for the rest of eternity. That is something that none of us can escape or avoid. While life is chaos there is always a positive to help you bounce back. That positive is counting your blessings.

These are a few of my current blessings, all of which are my guide to survival.

1. My brother moves back home December 2nd 🙂
2. I have a wonderful mentor whom I adore and admire immensely. (One of the fabulous Co-Founders of SELFiD)
3. My family is healthy and happy.
4. My boyfriend is a superstar and helps keep me sane.
5. I am healthy and happy.

When life gets me down, or school, I try to remember to count my blessings. My blessings are all of the beauty in my world. They keep my smiling and strong. Although I wish I could call it quits on the whole school thing right now, all of those 5 blessings are keeping my head in the game.

What are your blessings?

#BonItOut – The Bon