Life Update and Other PSAs

Hello my beautiful friends!  Boy, oh boy has it been an interesting time lately.  Way too much has changed and still continues to change by the hour, at least it feels like like it.  Let’s go back in time a bit and I will update y’all on what’s been going on in my life since the last time we got the chance to chat.

The second semester of my junior year of college started out kind of bumpy for me personally, I’m not sure why exactly, but I do know that it had to do with my mental health.  I just wasn’t feeling like myself.  March came and with it brought something I only thought happened during Medieval times or in movies; a world-wide pandemic thanks to the Coronavirus.  When rumors started going around that they were going to shut down the university, I didn’t believe it because these things don’t happen to little ol’ New England, right?  But as time went on it became more of a reality that I wouldn’t be finishing my third year on campus.  On the last day before spring break, I accepted the fact that I may not see these people again until the fall (or at all because a lot of my friends were seniors this year and now have graduated).  When I say I accepted it, I mean that I acknowledged it, I wasn’t okay with it and it almost felt like I was saying good-bye and that left a very unsettling feeling in my stomach.  I felt like I did when I graduated high school.

I already had an inkling that I didn’t like online learning when I took chemistry my senior year through VLACS, which is a virtual online learning program, but I discovered that I REALLY don’t like online classes.  The way I learn is very visual and hands-on so being online is the complete opposite of that.  I struggled a lot with my academics, but I somehow made it out with a 3.5 GPA for the semester which I am SUPER proud about.  I expected my anxiety and depression to increase, and it did, but not as much as I thought.  Keeping my mind focused and busy is so important because it prevents me from spiraling out of control.  Finding things to do when you can’t leave your house is not easy, but Pinterest has some really good ideas, also talking with my therapist has given me healthy coping tools as well.

Finally finishing my classes has brought a lot of my stress down, but it has also increased my boredom and fidgetiness, but I have found that having a plan and a place to check things off is super satisfying and it makes me feel like I have accomplished something, no matter how small.

Remembering to celebrate the small wins and reminding yourself that right now nothing is normal and that’s okay is important to not spiral.

I want to close with this: remember that things are different and maybe a little scary and even annoying, but this will pass and we will grow from it.  Stay strong beauties!