Some college students are good at saying "no." They know how to budget their time well, and manage their schedules so they have time for food, sleep, homework, and a social life.
And then there are people like me.
People like me love to be involved. If someone presents us with an opportunity, you'd better believe we are going to take it. It's not because we can't say no. We can--we just don't want to. We love everything we are involved in. The problem, however, is that each new thing adds its own time commitment, and pretty soon, we are out of free time, scrambling to fit everything in, going insane, and can't believe that we over-involved ourselves again. We vow it will never happen again, but it always does.
Here are the 14 phases of over-involving yourself, as told by Spongebob Squarepants:
1. When there's something new to sign up for
"Hey, there's this new show happening next month, who want's to audition?" ME, I DO!
2. And another...and another
"Oh, and I was wondering if you could do this?" "OK!" "And also are you interested in running for an officer position in this organization?" OF COURSE I AM!
3. When you see your semester mapped out ahead of you
You know it's going to be a marathon, but it'll be fine, right?
4. And then, a few weeks later, you realize what you've done.
Because when you signed up for 9 different things, you forgot to factor in that you also have tests, projects, papers, oh yeah, and SLEEP to factor in.
5. That one week where everything happens at once, and you think you might actually go insane.
You have three papers, two tests, a show opening, a recital, rehearsals, and meetings every night of the week, and by the time the week is over, you've reached a whole new level of slap happy.
6. But then you realize it's not just that ONE week...this is your life now
...what have I done
7. And then you think back to last semester, when you swore you wouldn't do this again
But, of course you did, because you always do.
8. Your professors notice you're over-involved, and you try to explain
No, you don't understand--everything will be fine--no--I like it--NO I am not quitting anything.
9. But then you forget just one thing
Maybe you've finally done it...taken on too much. Maybe it's time to back off...
10. So you sit down and re-evaluate your life
Sleeping is not optional. I repeat. Sleeping is not optional.
11. And somehow, magically, pull it together
EVERYTHING IS FINE.
12. By the end of the semester, you look and feel like this
13. And you vow that you will never EVER over-involve yourself like this again.
No, really, next semester I'm not going to do this again.
