At this point in the semester, it is undoubtedly very difficult to power through the endless amount of work, obligations and stress that has risen, not only from the internal pressures of school, but also from external factors. For an individual, as myself, struggling to somehow see the finish line with the utmost clarity, the terror of midterms has been basically unbearable for me.

I’ve been working through an uncountable number of moments marked with prominent anxieties, fears and sheer agony. I would say that over the past few days in particular, it has been immensely difficult to figure out how to steer through the mess of commitments I have taken on and I found myself really angered by my decisions to fill up my schedule, such that I don’t feel like I even have the time to catch my breath. But despite all of the fluctuations in my mood and my inability to change the fact that there is a multitude of tasks looming over my head, I’ve learned a few ways to keep myself together.

One of the most effective ways for me to keep pushing myself to get through all of the work and the various requirements that I have is to think about my mom. Growing up, I have watched my mom struggle with my siblings and I, the obligations she had as a wife, a mother, a member of her community and as a student aspiring to obtain a master’s degree.

Knowing that my mom was able to fight through all of that and also keep up her grades, ultimately getting the degrees that she strived for, serves as a reminder that I am more than capable of overcoming my own issues when it comes to coping with the stresses of academia as well as my personal life.

Some of the most helpful steps involve finding ways to keep calm and that may be in whatever form suits an individual, but it is important to focus on breathing and not allowing all the stresses to become overwhelming all at once. I’ve also learned about understanding what matters most in life and not forgetting to fulfill the needs of those things. One of my biggest struggles, in regards to a hectic lifestyle, is remembering the simple, yet essential obligations such as remembering to drink water, as well as consuming solid meals throughout the day. I have an immensely bad habit of skipping meals because I get too caught up on completing my work or studying.

Another very important and necessary step that I believe is applicable to just about any situation, is reaching out for help if needed. Maybe it’s because we are attending colleges/universities and make serious life decisions that we feel we must strive for an ultimate independence, but it is crucial to ask for help when needed.

Whether it's the support of parents, friends, partners in a relationship, therapists, doctors or even the assistance of a professor. It's really important to never overburden oneself and then go on to cope alone.

There is always a point in stressful situations in which our own judgments get clouded and it's essential to not only receive the advice/insight of others, but to accept legitimate help when offered. Stress is most definitely a very normal feeling, but too much, and too-frequent stress is unhealthy. It's not an experience people should have to endure, at least not alone.