First semester goes super smooth and you feel
like you've got the whole college thing slightly figured out, but in reality
second semester is a much different ball game. Remember the struggle of second
semester of senior year? It’s like that but 10x worse.
Honestly I don't remember why I wrote this because right now is supposed to be a super stressful part of the semester but I am on top of everything and all of my assignments are done already, so I'm feeling pretty good. From what I can remember when I wrote this, February (like always) was just a hard month.
You'll be thankful you didn't sign up for more classes
Last semester I took 17 credit hours, this semester I planned on just doing 13 but then I added another B-block class so technically I'm in 14. My schedule this semester is a lot more spread out so it's nice that I'm not in any more classes. Also on Tuesdays this semester my only class is from 9:30-10:50 and it's great to be done by 11.
You'll feel overwhelmed
I mean that was to be expected. It's a part of your life on the regular. This semester I've rediscovered how important working out is to me. The best way for me to clear my head is to just go to the gym and run in the mornings. Also, I can get fairly busy with meetings and other commitments. It's important to squeeze in time to just decompress and unwind from the day, even if it is just 20 minutes before bed.
You'll stay up until 1 am on a Monday morning with friends eating donuts, studying for a theatre test and talking about life
Honestly this was probably one of my favorite nights all semester just because I wasn't expecting it. I was at the Sigma Pi house studying for a theatre test with Oliver, and Jessie and Jayne were there studying for French (I think??). Usually I'm in bed at like 11 so I was getting ready to leave but then a guy named Joseph showed up with a dozen donuts from Hurts. Overall it was just a really good night that I appreciate to this day. I think that's something, too, that I really value about my college experience-- it's the little moments you don't expect that really make your semester great.
You can say no
... and you finally did
Some people will argue that I still can't say no to joining an organization or getting involved in leadership positions in the extracurriculars I'm already involved in, however, I did say no to one club this semester so it's a start. I started to realize that I can only do so much and that I have to prioritize what I do.
You won't stop worrying
Going back to feeling overwhelmed, the anxiety and worry in your life won't go away, even on your happiest days. I think it's important to acknowledge that.
You realized that some friendships aren't worth struggling to hold up
Like I mentioned above, you need to prioritize the people in your life, too.
But you will become even more thankful for the friendships that are great and worth it.
Hour-plus conversations on the phone with your mom make your week much better
The only time I'v really been "homesick" was right before spring break when I just really wanted to be home and get a break. When I was feeling at my worst I would just call my mom and she'd reassure me that all would be okay and that I would be home soon. She is my biggest inspiration and she motivates me daily to be a better person. I hope that I can one day be just as great as she is.
It's wild to think that a place can become a home so quickly
Early in March (or sometime around then) my parents told me we were moving. It isn't a huge move, we're still living in Winghaven, just at a smaller house. When people asked how I felt about it, I told them this; "Home is about the people, not the location." I have two homes, that with my family in O'Fallon and here at Drury. The people I have surrounded myself with at both these locations have really built my definition of "home". I never imagined I'd be this comfortable 3 1/2 hours away from my traditional "home", but I am so happy that I have been able to enjoy my year here and I can't wait to see where next fall takes me.
You can take time for yourself-- it's ok
Sometimes you've just got to stay in one weekend (or two) and just hang out. As someone who is very introverted, I spend a lot of my time around people doing school/Kappa Delta things/the Mirror/etc. While I love what I do, sometimes I just need a Friday night spent watching Netflix and going to bed at 11. I've learned that you shouldn't feel guilty for doing this and that sometimes you've just got to do it.
You'll build up your relationship with God
As I discussed in an earlier blog post, I've reconnected with my Christian faith this semester, more so than I've been in a long time. It's easy to get caught up in the repetitive-ness of worship sometimes, but coming to Springfield and getting plugged in to a church here has helped reignite my love for God. I've also made it a daily priority to go through my devotional and just reflect on scripture, which I think has also made a huge difference.
There are lessons in everything, good and bad
It's easy to complain about that mandatory elective class you're in or the amount of meetings you have on (x) day of the week, but there are lessons to be learned from every situation. Some lessons are better than others and some are good, while others aren't as great. But from each situation we are able to grow. This semester has been full of highlights but also more difficult times. Learning how to apply the lessons you learn is how you can grow as a person and continue to be successful.
I cannot believe that this semester is already coming to an end. Like I mentioned above (a few times), I have had such an incredible semester and I'm so thankful for my friends and family. While I am sad to go back home for the summer and leave my friends behind, I'm also excited for a much needed break (I mean I'll be working a lot, but I'm trying to forget that). I think this summer will also make me appreciate how great my friends at school are even more than I already do.
Thanks for reading my crazy-long blog post this week, I hope you enjoyed it and got something from it!
Until next time,
Taylor xx
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