If I told you I had an undergrad degree with a co-op designation and multiple terms on the dean’s list, and a public relations certificate, would you believe me if I said I still didn’t know how to be a student?

This semester was HARD. I feel like I felt an entirely new level of stress and anxiety. I’m in a hard place to trying to entirely focus on school to get the grades I need to get into med school, but also not fall apart at the seams in the finance department. This semester I had a part time job for the four months, was balancing volunteer work, with limited to social/free time, and a half course load of very heavy classes (read my first chemistry class EVER, my first university math class, and biology).

Not to mention, I’m still battling my low energy levels. I started on consistent iron supplements in February, regular B12 shots since March, and slightly more attention to nutrition. But I’m also fallen off my iron pills and nutrition in the last month. Like cliff-dived.

Today, I wrapped up my final of three cumulative exams. I definitely feel like a weight was lifted off my shoulders but I also still have this heavy feeling in my stomach. This is the first time in my academic career where I’m not absolutely relieved to be done. This leads to me to a very clear revelation that things need to change in the fall. I am not deterred from school, in fact I know this drive is ever more clear to get myself INTO med school. I am deterred from feeling this overwhelmed and having a weekly scheduled completely bogged down, every hour of the day.

Here’s to figuring out a solid plan when I head back to the books in the fall (if not this summer-I’m trying to get onto a waitlist at another school to take the next level of chemistry).