I wake up. Go to college. Come home, study for a test or write part of a paper. Go to work, watch kids. Come back home, either eat junk or cook a meal. Finish studying for that test or writing that paper. Take a shower, and go to bed. Repeat.

Monday. Tuesday. Wednesday. Thursday. Friday.

I am tired. I am tired because of repetitiveness and the hard work I put in, but I am even more tired of hearing "you don't work 9 to 5, you have no excuse to be as worn out as you are."

I currently am taking 18 hours of class work, with the aim of making the dean's list a second consecutive semester. Working 18 hours a week in the childcare industry, with my eye on getting hired on for their summer program. Commuting 250+ miles a week. All the while being a helpful daughter, a good friend, and supportive girlfriend.

So, pardon me if, by the time Wednesday, two exams, an essay, and a research proposal come around, I say "man, I sure am exhausted." Because I am.

I mean, congratulations... You work 40 hours a week, and it's intense, and it's physical - you sweat, and Monday you pulled a muscle in your back. I understand it's hard; props to you for waking up in the morning, putting on your work boots, and getting the job done.

But, just because I don't have work boots to put on in the mornings doesn't mean I don't have a lot of work to do... Most experts suggest studying 2-3 hours outside of class per week for every credit hour taken, so if you factor that in that along with working, and going to class, 72 hours of the week I am busy.

That's not to say that I don't love my job, or that I mind being busy. I love it. I like spreading myself a little thin - I work best that way. But, at the end of the day, I am human, I do get tired, and especially of being told that I have no reason to be.