All tagged school

Should have...Didn't...And That's Ok.

Should have...Didn't...And That's Ok.

SweetTee
Life Notes

I wrote my last exam of my fourth year at York University on Friday. It should have been my last exam of my undergraduate. I should be attending convocation this year. I should be framing and hanging my degree this winter.  I should be applying to graduate programs. I should be…I should be… I should be. But I’m not. I am not graduating this year, because despite having been at York for four years, I am not done my program. And I won’t be done next year, and I’m not even sure I’ll be done the year after that.

At first, I was incredibly depressed by this realization. As my classmates made plans to take grad photos and celebrated handing in final exams and essays, I made plans to take time off of school and work full-time to pay off my student debt. Despite pulling a fantastic average throughout my entire university career, I felt like I’d failed. I had wanted to complete my program in the prescribed four years, and I hadn’t. I hadn’t achieved what I should have.

Ain't Nothing Wrong with Taking a Break: The Importance of Mental Health Days

Ain't Nothing Wrong with Taking a Break: The Importance of Mental Health Days

SweetTee
Life Notes

You tossed and turned all night long. You’ve got three papers due this week. You burned your toast, stubbed your toe, it’s colder than a mutha and your hair just won’t cooperate. You’re probably going to lose your cool on the first person who looks at you too hard. I think you’d better take a mental health day.

My first two years of university, I lived at home and didn’t have a job. So, I managed to truck through the terms, attend nearly every class and maintain my sanity. Third year came and I was working 24 hours a week, plus keeping house and balancing a few extra-curricular activities. All my nights were long and all my days were moody and I was nearly always on the verge of exploding. And then one day I got up and said, “Nope, not today!” I pulled the covers over my head and slept in til noon. I painted my toe nails purple, ate too many chips and watched some movies. And I didn’t feel bad for it. I felt great, actually.