I feel like I'm being torn in a million different directions.

[AutumnDae]

I thought school was supposed to get easier at the end of the year. It seems to be getting harder and harder, and more work piled on top of more work.

I have so much work lately, and it's like I can't get a handle on it. I've got an English research paper, which I need desperate help on, but of course, my teacher is never there when I go to her for help. Greeeeeeat. So I try to figure it out at home, and I can't. I spent over 12 hours this weekend working on it, only to find out today that I did most of it wrong. Excellent. So I've been scrambling to fix it. My outline for it is due Thursday, first thing. And I have written one sentence on mine. Which doesn't even really have to do with my paper.

Then we've got Earth Science. I hate the subject, which makes it all that much harder. I have a hard time paying attention in class (partly because I don't like the teacher, partly because it's boring, and partly because the period before I have Global which I usually fall asleep in and I'm still sleepy during the class) and then I get home and try to do lab questions/study my notes/take my notes and I look at the words and its like thats the first time I've ever seen them.

Health class isn't a problem as a whole, but right now I have my final project that I need to be working on. Which is a pain, and I can't find time to even start it.

French we are doing a cool project/activity. Except for the fact that no one in my group will help me so I'm stuck doing all of it by myself. I always end up doing that on projects.

Band is becoming a problem as well. Lessons, which mean I miss a class, and jazz band music that is really tough, along with our festival coming up, and marching band, which means rehearsals and whatnot. Geesh.

Oh yeah, lets not forget about softball. That consumes most of any extra time I have. On a game night, sometimes I won't get home until close to 8 PM, and by the time I take a shower and eat (because I usually haven't eaten since 11 that morning, sometimes not at all yet that day) I don't start my homework until very late, throwing me way off course, and then I have to stay up late.

I'm in a perpetually bad mood around everyone because of lack of sleep. I need 7 hours to actually function correctly. Going to bed at 1 and getting up at 6:15-6:30 does not work out well for me. Then I usually fall asleep during Global, which isn't a big deal, because usually we are talking about something non related to the subject. Then I'm tired for Earth Science, making it impossible to focus. So then I have to come home and try to make sense of everything that went on during class.

It's just too much. I have every moment of every single day filled. Even when I'm on VT, I always have a school window open, checking a lab, researching for my English paper, doing things. It's becoming so difficult.

*sigh*

[Gumleaf]

ewwww, i so hate the end of the school year. every teacher wants more from you and they throw in a heap of assessments at once and you end up doing all nighters 2 nights in a row because you have buggered up your geography assessment and teachers have little sympathy for the workload you have and any social life you did have is basically non existant. well, that was me for 2-3 weeks at the end of last year around exam time. the good news is that the stress and frustarations that brings doesn't last and you will soon have summer to enjoy and get a bit of rest from school, and do those things you enjoy doing. it will be ok autumn, i promise you. just try and keep calm and try not to stress, because when you stress, thats when things in your mind become so much more difficult to handle. you are a great student and i know you will still do very well, good luck with it all autumn.

[byee]

Awwww.....poor Auty. I'd offer you a magical brownie, but I know you don't like them. Maybe that's part of the problem? You could use a little magic. And chocolate.

You and I both know that you have the ability here to get thru this (and whatever else gets thrown in your way). Take a deep breath, make a plan, and do it. When it gets to crunch time, I just know you'll put the pedal to the metal and get it all done.

Make a strategy here, Auty, figure out what your priorities are, and act accordingly. Methinks the softball might need to go, it seems to be taking up a lot of time, and interferring with too many other things (like sleep and study time). Even if you decide to continue, see what you can do differently somewhere else to relieve the stress.

I think what happens for you is that when stuff gets thrown at you, you attempt to juggle it along with all the other responsibilities you have. Which is ok if you've got the time, etc., to do that. However, when there's just too many balls in the air, I think you need to be able to choose to drop one or two, and be OK with that. You don't, you feel like you should be able to do 'everything'. That's not always going to be the case, the expectations and demands increase with time. You're in the big leagues now.

Drop a ball here, Autumn. You might not be able to accomplish everything , the demands of each might be too much.

[AutumnDae]

ewwww, i so hate the end of the school year. every teacher wants more from you and they throw in a heap of assessments at once and you end up doing all nighters 2 nights in a row because you have buggered up your geography assessment and teachers have little sympathy for the workload you have and any social life you did have is basically non existant. well, that was me for 2-3 weeks at the end of last year around exam time. the good news is that the stress and frustarations that brings doesn't last and you will soon have summer to enjoy and get a bit of rest from school, and do those things you enjoy doing. it will be ok autumn, i promise you. just try and keep calm and try not to stress, because when you stress, thats when things in your mind become so much more difficult to handle. you are a great student and i know you will still do very well, good luck with it all autumn.
Yeah. The thought of no school is what is keeping me going. I've given up on my English for the night. I'm going to keep screwing it up and having to redo it, so why not just wait until I can get help? Thanks Stephen.

Awwww.....poor Auty. I'd offer you a magical brownie, but I know you don't like them. Maybe that's part of the problem? You could use a little magic. And chocolate.

You and I both know that you have the ability here to get thru this (and whatever else gets thrown in your way). Take a deep breath, make a plan, and do it. When it gets to crunch time, I just know you'll put the pedal to the metal and get it all done.

Make a strategy here, Auty, figure out what your priorities are, and act accordingly. Methinks the softball might need to go, it seems to be taking up a lot of time, and interferring with too many other things (like sleep and study time). Even if you decide to continue, see what you can do differently somewhere else to relieve the stress.

I think what happens for you is that when stuff gets thrown at you, you attempt to juggle it along with all the other responsibilities you have. Which is ok if you've got the time, etc., to do that. However, when there's just too many balls in the air, I think you need to be able to choose to drop one or two, and be OK with that. You don't, you feel like you should be able to do 'everything'. That's not always going to be the case, the expectations and demands increase with time. You're in the big leagues now.

Drop a ball here, Autumn. You might not be able to accomplish everything , the demands of each might be too much.

Softball is not going. I refuse to give up anything. Call me stubborn, that's fine. Softball must stay. It's really important to me. I could possibly be excused from practice on Thursday....That would help out. Other than softball, there isn't anything I can give up. Maybe if I talk to my French teacher she will switch the groups around so I have some help with the project. And my health final isn't due for a while....I can stop worrying about that for now.

[Gumleaf]

i don't think giving up softball is a good idea. i know how much you love it and you need that break from your school work and time out in the fresh air because its good for you. but yeah, try not to stress and try not to feel so overwhelmed. remember, this is only temporary and i know you can do it autumn. like i said, you are a really good student and i know you will get through it all.