The Not So Secret Life of The American 20 Year Old

Life as we know it changes throughout the course of our years. It seems like it becomes more and more stressful as time continues to tick. As we progress things become more stressful and time management becomes a large factor for life. How exactly do we know how to balance the many things? Work, School, Church, Family, Sleep, Friends, etc. I have yet to figure out exactly what the balance should be. What order should these things be done and how should I go about accomplishing each one. The goals I had for this semester in school have already started to become unable to accomplish. I am at a loss for how to manage my school work, take good notes, and study. Why am I a junior in college and just now experiencing this delima? In high school and at BCC I had good grades and was able to balance my time. Why all of a sudden am I having such a hard time? Why every night that you plan something four other things happen to be happening at the same time? I triple booked myself. How does someone triple book themself? Well, I guess when you are avoiding you calendar like you may catch the plague then it might just happen. Now that I have worked out this delima I must move on to the next. Work, I love it but at times I really miss the salon. I miss all of the girls, the constantly moving, chatting, doing something. I have learned that I miss that so much. How am I going to work in an office for the rest of my life if I miss that so much. I guess I better find a very busy office or decide on a minor where I can have more talking, moving, and the hustle of a busy day. Family, is the next topic on the list of my very busy day. How do you help your family to understand that you love them and that you are not trying to neglect them? I love my family with all my heart but sometimes it is so hard to relate to them and to have them understand how I feel. All I want is a little compassion. I guess that I will have to learn someday that my family is not quite the compassionate type if they know you are upset they will either pick on you and try to make you laugh or say something like you are being silly. It makes things tough but I should understand this about my family by now, it has been this way for the last 20 years and I don't see it changing anytime soon. Sleep, well I guess I should be doing that right now. I am one of those people who for the last 20 years has had my full 8 hours of beauty rest or I am the grumpiest girl alive. Well over the past few months this has not been so. I am living on less and less sleep and this fact actually scares me a little. What happens if I become like some of my friends and am zombie like and never sleep? What will I do? I may lose my mind being that I am already so close. Friends, I miss my best friend. I know that he is on a mission but sometimes I just want a nice big hug from him, but I am very proud and I am so glad that he decided to serve HF and go on a mission. My friends are all actually amazing and help me through the challenges I face. I know that HF has sent me each and every friend for some reason or another. I have probably driven them all crazy with my ranting and raving but because they all love me soo much they never say a word about me and my big mouth chatty cathy. I love that they all try to help me in any way they can. Church, I actually love church. I am prety sure that the church and my friends are what is helping me to retain the little bit of sanity I have left. Without church and the callings I have I would be quite the mess. I love the gospel and I know that HF will help me work through all of this and manage my time more wisely.Maybe all of this hustle is so that I can see where the life of a working student could prepare a person for marriage and parenthood. Working 28 hours a week, taking 16 credit hours, and fulfilling two callings is quite the load but I am the type of person who enjoys a full load and learning how to manage things. Yes, there may be a mental breakdown here and there but doesn't everyone have one of those every now and then?

♥ Ashley

P.S. I feel much better with all of this off of my chest!!