Please Support Me

I sit here in triumph, because my first assignment has been passed back to me and I received 90%! Woo hoo!

It's been a busy, frantic first week, and I have been trying to establish a routine and find my footing in the strange yet unfamiliar settings. In trying to find a balance, I've discovered that some things just do not work for me.

I'm taking four courses on recommendation of the Academic Adviser I went to, and those four courses are Law, Power, and Politics, The Messenger: Journalism and Storytelling, World History, and Crime and the Media. I'm taking my political science every Monday,Wednesday and Friday  around noon, then on Tuesdays and Thursdays I'm in class from 10 am until 1 pm, for my History and Journalism class, and I have my one night class at around 5 pm.

I have discovered in my first week the following very important points;

1) I'm in a better mood. Because I work on Sundays, Mondays, Fridays, and Saturdays, enjoying my classes makes my work seem less stressful, and I am in a happier mood. Especially on Fridays and Mondays.

2) I have no Mondays. Granted, this also means I have no Fridays or weekend, since I will always either be going to class or work, but it means I can't explain my blahs on a day, and it makes it harder for me to be negative.

3) I hate having to actually think before noon. Normally, because of the majority of my work shifts have been nights, I've slept until 10 am, laid in bed for two hours, and maybe started getting up around noon to drink coffee. This means I've been racing out to my morning classes, bagel clenched firmly in teeth, coffee thermos clutched to test to grab a cab to make it on time. But, I'm getting better about catching the buses. And I *hate* being late for classes...

4) I really am an introvert. That time block on Tuesdays and Thursdays kills me a little inside. Stay on campus for 5 odd hours, or catch the bus back home, to read through assignments and cook some food? Well, I've discovered that being on campus constantly around people drains all the energy out of me, so I have to go back home to recharge.

5) I don't like night classes. I used to love them in my first and second years. (You know, the ones where I undoubtedly was hungover until 3 pm?) But this one night class? Phew. I have to drink some form of caffeine during it, otherwise I start to nod off. Plus, this one is in an awkward time frame around where supper is.

6) I get to see my boyfriend a lot more. This is awesome, because I like him, and I'm always popping down to the radio station to rewrite my class notes and check in, and I get to run into him more. Plus, since we're both students again, we have more things to talk about, which makes hanging out more fun.

7) My time management skills are boss. Seriously, I'm working 4 days out of the week, going to school for 5 days, I have a bunch of volunteer jobs I'm doing, and I'm now writing for the student newspapers. I'm awesome.

8) I love my student fees. Seriously, I have dental coverage now. Do you realize how awesome that is?

9) Journalism is the silver tongued devil. Why do I say this? Because it's wooing me. It's wooing me hard. I'm seriously thinking of double majoring in Criminology and Journalism.

10) I reward myself for a job well done. I say this while currently chowing down sushi and inhaling green tea, because I decided that getting an A- on my first paper is cause for celebration. As long as I don't dwell on possible shortcomings, and reward myself for good behavior (like finishing my note taking for the day and reading this weeks' entertainment novel instead of working further on assignments due later on down the road, or getting an A on a paper and gorging myself on sushi.) then I'm sure I'll remain reasonably sane.

The only thing I'll have to remember is to let myself sleep properly. Last night I was up until 4 am!

So please, follow my tenth point when talking to me about my new aspirations in life. Yes, I am very aware I can easily burn out, but pointing this out to me more often will make me dwell on it and stress more than I need to. Instead, ask how those week's classes are going, or if I'm excited for something else happening this week.

After all, I know for a fact I can do this, but your job as my friends and acquaintances is to support me in my endeavors just like I attempt to support yours.

Much love, everyone.