Remember yourself!

In college, it’s easy to forget what makes you, you. If you value your education, you could develop a tendency to become a productive, homework-completing, excessive reading, studying machine and forget to indulge in those things that make you unique, those things that make you sane.

My first few years of college, I fell into that. Now, I’m not saying that academic productivity and a deep-valuing of education is in anyway a bad thing, but during that time, I tended to justify denying myself things I enjoyed because “school was more important.” This year, I have allowed myself to enjoy the other things I’m passionate about in my life in addition to school, and I can tell you, I am a lot more psychologically well-off than in previous year.

This week serves as a perfect example. I was faced with an intense literature paper, another paper proposal, my senior seminar research paper and a collaborative project. Luckily, I got an extension on one assignment, but the workload this week has been taxing to say the least.

And yet, this week, I also vowed to engage in activities that had nothing to do with school but which genuinely made me happy. Yesterday, for example, I attended a poetry workshop with several other students and Kentucky poet Bianca Spriggs. Writing poetry is something I genuinely enjoy and find import. In the past few years, though, I have not been able to devote much time to it because of school. The experience last night was simultaneously depressing and inspiring. I realized just how much I had neglected a true passion, but I gained the hope that I can make time for it, even during a week when everything seems to be due for class. I had a fabulous time, and left with the beginnings of several new poems!

Bianca Spriggs performing one of her poems!

I am also allowing myself two more pleasures this week! Tonight at midnight, I will join the masses at the movie theatre for the premiere of Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows part 1. The Harry Potter series was an integral part of my childhood, and so I am allowing myself to take a break from research to go enjoy this event with sold-out crowds.

What I am most excited about, though, is my trip to Cleveland, Ohio this weekend, to see three of my favorite bands perform in concert! Music is also a huge passion of mine, and has been for years. In college, however, I did not have time to keep up with it like I used to, and I even went whole days without listening to any music because I had too much work. Honestly, that shouldn’t be an excuse! That’s why I’m allowing myself to make the 6 hour drive to see my dream concert! No more –always- passing on valuable non-academic experiences in favor of work.

It is possible to be completely dedicated to your education while still enjoying those other things that make you happy. So, when you come to college, don’t forget yourself!