There is one sole reason why last semester was difficult for me. I had four 8:30 a.m. classes.
When I went through my first time scheduling for college classes in the summer, I was oblivious of the amount of time you stay up later than normal in college. I was additionally unaware of the amount of Netflix my roommate and I would watch because we were too sucked into the plot.
I figured if I could make it work all throughout high school at 7:55 a.m. every morning, 8:30's seemed like a luxury.
My RA looked at me when I told her my schedule and said, "Oh my. You have four 8:30s? You are going to die."
Yes, you might be thinking that wasn't very supportive of my RA. However, she was just looking out for me with her honest opinion. Little did my incoming freshman self know that I really, really was going to struggle with this decision.
The first couple of weeks, things were great. I was waking up an hour before, in no hurry to get to class on time.
With each month, things stayed at a steady pace. However, I was slowly waking up later and later, feeling more rushed as each day passed.
I made a terrific friend in my residence hall who was also in my 8:30 a.m. classes, and she would get breakfast before class (disclaimer, this girl is now my sorority sister). I decided to join her in the mornings to take notes for the class prior.
But slowly but surely, I would unintentionally turn off my alarm with no memory of doing so. I was then waking up to the sound of my friend knocking on my door in the morning to wake me up for breakfast. The amount of "I am sooo sorry texts" got out of control.
I was in a battle with an 8:30 a.m. class, and the class was winning.
It was only until the last couple of weeks of first semester that I physically couldn't do it anymore. I was hitting snooze three times every morning, waking up at 8:31 on the dot, and running to final exams so I could make it on time (with no breakfast in my system and no time to get any food elsewhere).
Some might read this critique and disagree. They might think if you wake up earlier than you are more likely to get more done, giving you more time to sit back and relax like a normal human being.
I have never found that once in my experience with 8:30s. In my classes, I never paid attention because I was so stinkin' tired. All I could think about was how little sleep I got and how badly I wished to take a nap. So then, after my class, I would trudge back to my cozy dorm to take a nap. And then, after sleeping longer than I needed to, I would try to catch up in my 8:30 class in which I was too tired to pay attention in. I found myself getting behind, which led to stress.
And then the next day, I would do it all over again.
College is busy. You have 8 extracurriculars you are involved in, you like to stay in shape, you like to keep a clean room (this includes vacuuming), you have to get your butt to the market, you have to have downtime to watch Netflix or simply stare at a wall, and you have to get all your schoolwork done. Having an 8:30am in the morning doesn't work well in the midst of all of this.
Maybe you are an early bird, and to that I say I will forever wish I could have your gift. But for the most of us, we drag ourselves out of bed at this ungodly hour for a class that we are just going to fall asleep in.
Last semester, I got stressed more easily. I took more naps than I ever have in my entire life (one of them when I was talking to my roommate while laying on the bed and actually fell asleep while talking to her). I felt there wasn't enough hours in the day, when really all I needed was a good night sleep to achieve a clear head.
This semester, I do not have a single 8:30 a.m. class, and I couldn't be happier with that decision. Now, I am actually getting sleep at night. I am taking care of myself before I try to tackle anything and everything.
The truth is, sometimes we will wear ourselves out. We will never be Superwoman, and we can't hold ourselves to such high expectations, or else we are going to find ourselves at a dead end.
As college students, we need sleep. Fair and square. How are we supposed to get all of this done without it?
So this is why I say, at the end of a long semester, that 8:30s are just not for me. It is up to you to make the decision for yourself whether you want to take on the challenge that just might get the best of you.
As for me, I have decided to start taking care of myself. I have yet to regret that decision.
