We all know the second semester slump is real. Some days it's so real that you convince your roommate to skip class (for the first time ever) to go get Chipotle (Seriously, roomie points go to you Chrissi). And some days it's so real that you stay up all night writing a 15 page paper you started the day before it was due. So here's to you all my college friends and here's to the second semester slump that has us all dreaming of the days of nap time and recess!

Stage 1: Denial

Denial comes when we just refuse to admit that we have four assignments due in 24 hours and a presentation about who-knows-what in half an hour. This stage is when we enter procrastination and skip class and go to Chipotle. Yes, I have 10 million things to work on, but I promise that burrito is more important. The longer we deny what's coming, the more Chipotle we can eat.

Stage 2: Anger

I'm sorry for everyone who's been by my side when anger hit. Next time, I'm going to look into kick boxing or something. But, the anger stage is when you just want to scream, kick and cry your way out of every assignment. Also, this is when everything is your professors fault. Why'd you wait until the last minute to write this paper? Because your professor hates you and makes you hate life and it is in no way your fault whatsoever.

Stage 3: Bargaining

At this point you're bargaining with everyone: God, your professors, your parents, and even yourself. If God helps you pass, you promise you'll stop cussing for a week. If your professor gives you an extension, you promise the paper will be AMAZING. If your parents promise they'll love you no matter how hard you fail an exam, you'll call them at least every other day. And finally, you promise yourself that if you study really hard for an hour, you can take a two-hour nap. Bargaining: it's what gets us through.

Stage 4: Depression

This is the stage where the entire world falls right onto your shoulders, you haven't laughed in days and you call your mom crying for the fifth time in a week. At this point, you cry about everything: the boy that broke your heart in the second grade, the death of the goldfish you won at a carnival, your untied shoe. Everything and anything makes you cry. You feel like these emotions will never end. Just breathe, call someone who makes you smile and let yourself laugh. The depression stage is the hardest, but I promise you'll get through it.

Stage 5: Acceptance

The second semester slump begins to end with acceptance. You've had more coffee than sleep, you're wearing yesterday's makeup, your hair may actually scare people and your phone has more battery left than you do. But, you've finished half of your assignments and it's Friday. Thinking about the work you'll brush off until Sunday night exhausts you, but you know the end is near. A bright future is ahead, everything is going to be alright.

(Thanks for letting me use this pic Steph)