To my college students who can't sleep because there is so much to be done.
To my college students who are working two jobs, contemplating a third one.
To my college students pulling their hair out with stress.
To my college students who get random circumstances thrown at them every single day.
To my college students who don't know when their next nap is. Or their next full night of sleep, if we're honest.
To my college students that just lost a friend over too many texts not replied to.
To my pre-professional college students stressing over internships, extracurriculars, and maintaining a great GPA at the same time.
To my college students who want to spend time with their family but have no idea when they would fit into their schedule.
To my college students who apply to at least five scholarships a day.
To my college students scheduling appointment after appointment.
To my college students who have color-coded planners, with writing on every single line.
To my college students that feel like there's never enough time.
To my college students that feel like it never stops:
Keep pushing. Keep working.
It may never stop, but you won't either. You are more powerful than you can imagine and so much more capable than you believe. You can do whatever you set your mind to and you will. Don't stop, never cease, keep working. Dreams cannot be achieved without hard work and a positive mindset.
I feel your pain, I share some of these same struggles. I know that it feels like you're in this alone. I know that it feels like no one understands why you're so tired, or the work that you put in behind-the-scenes. I completely understand how hard you fight the urge to pull the cover over your head every morning. I understand your jealousy at those who don't go through what we do (If it's any consolation, you're better than them. You're learning so many useful things for adulthood, especially how to manage stress. You can have fun later.)
Most of all, I understand how tempting it is to just give up. You have to remember why you started in the first place. You have to remember why you keep going. Contemplate how far you've come. Most of all, you have to remember that this is for you. You deserve to achieve your dreams, your goals, your aspirations.
To all my "busy" college students: Yes, you will lose people. Yes, you will have periods where nothing goes right. No, you won't be able to see the people you love as often as you'd like. Yes, you will be tired.
It's worth it.
