Posts Tagged “stress”

From Freshman Year to Senior Year – Part II

Posted on February 23, 2012 by Stephanie

Last week I blogged about the things that have changed about me over the last few years, and I had too much to fit into one blog. Imagine that. So here is Part II.

Handling stress/being busy

It’s not that I didn’t know how to handle being busy all the time when I first came to school, but I just didn’t know what being busy really meant quite yet. Each semester I have become more and more busy, and I have slept less and less. But somehow, it got easier with each semester, probably because I learned how to actually apply myself and how to use my time wisely. Each semester I had to work harder in my classes, and I had more things to do for clubs and stuff on campus. Because of this, I was able to slowly get used to the entire process…which was really pretty nice. The best part of all is that this semester, my final semester, I think that I am the least busy of my entire college career. It’s a beautiful thing….but now I don’t know how to handle having free time. It’s strange how things work like that…isn’t it?

Friendships

Just like everything else, friendships change over the years. I’m still friends with my best friends from freshman year, but during the last few years I have met different people and formed new friendships that I absolutely love. Most of these have been through living with new people in Alpha Phi, people that I either didn’t know before or just didn’t know well. Second semester sophomore year, I lived with Meghan, Liz, and Lauren…and over the course of the semester we became best friends. In the next few months, Meghan and Liz are getting married, and we are all in each of their weddings (so precious..I know). So, we are basically the stereotype sorority girls…since we met in Alpha Phi and now we are going to be in each of their weddings. Last semester, I moved in with Katie, Lauren, and Brooke…and we just fit together. We weren’t sure how it was going to work out, because we are all such different people, but now I couldn’t imagine living with anyone else and I think we only get along so well because we are outrageously different. I’m so glad that I stepped out of my comfort zone to live with people I didn’t know well…because then I wouldn’t be close with any of these 5 beautiful ladies. Love you all!

Meghan, Liz, Lauren, and I.

Brooke, Lauren, Katie, and I.

Tagged: busyness, clubs, freshman to senior, freshman year, friendship, senior year, stress, studying | 1 Comment

A whole new perspective…

Posted on July 13, 2011 by Stephanie

One thing that I love to do is to throw pity parties…for myself. Like today, I was feeling extra down because one thing after another kept going wrong (like my permanent retainer coming loose…again), or I would think of something that makes me sad…almost to the point of crying… (like my sister moving to New Mexico…next week). So I was ready to come home after work, change into my sweats, and watch Harry Potter…all night long. I was planning to clean out our fridge of my leftover pizza, leftover ice cream cake, and anything else that looked delicious (like our jumbo marshmallows) and spend about 5 hours wallowing in my own self-pity…with my Snuggie of course.

Yeah...my marshmallows are outrageously large...so they are that much more delicious.

Even though this was my plan, it was completely turned upside down when I came home and saw my Facebook. First, my best friend, Meghan, had posted a blog on her wall about adoption. I read it and almost cried….for a good reason this time. It reminded me of my two sweet cousins that were just recently adopted, and instantly my good mood was on its way back. Then, I saw post after post about an old friend of mine who went into surgery for a lung transplant last night, and did splendidly considering her state before the surgery. I was upset with myself for spending my entire day thinking about my silly little problems when there are other people in the world with much bigger and more important ones.

So…I encourage you to put things into perspective the next time that you are having a pity-party. It will make you feel optimistic and hopeful…two of my favorite feelings.

Tagged: adoption, braces, facebook, family, friends, Harry Potter, permanent retainer, pity party, stress | 1 Comment

Oh the Perks of Being a Junior….

Posted on April 15, 2011 by Stephanie

This week was a big one here at Butler, it was the first week of registering for classes for the Fall of 2011. Usually, for me, this means several things…

I stress out about getting the perfect schedule. Until this semester, I have only really had morning classes, but I would be booked solid from 8-12 almost every day. So I have always been partial to those morning classes, since they make it so easy to get things done so you can have the rest of the day to yourself.
After I decide what my perfect schedule would be, I stress until it is finally my turn to register. This entails me constantly watching each of the classes that I want, all to see how many people have registered so far, and how many spots are left in those classes.
By the time I finally get to register, I am usually on my plan B, C, or even D for my schedule because certain classes are full. This is depressing, because it means that all of my strategies were for nothing, as was all of my stress.

But this year….things were massively different. Since I am going to be a senior…there were no upperclassmen who registered before me who took spots in the classes that I wanted. And….best of all…there aren’t many classes left for me to take. When I met with my adviser to go over my plan for my senior year, I realized that I only have about 15 credits left until I can graduate. I will still be here for a year because I will be spreading those credits out into two semesters, I will be taking other classes as well, and I will be doing internships every semester, but still. The end is near, and I actually believe that for the first time…ever.

So if you are an incoming freshman and you take a look at our curriculum sheet and you want to just quit before you even start….remember this: Before you know it…it will be over. And you won’t like it. So cherish those registering difficulties and everything that is frustrating, because when it isn’t difficult anymore, that usually means that you’re close to being done. And just think, some people graduate early, like my roommate Meghan will be doing, as well as my friend Em. I’ve know Em since one of my first days at Butler, and Meghan since the beginning of spring semester my freshman year, and it seems so strange to look at how far we have come….cue reminiscing through photos…..