If I am being totally honest, I am so relieved that this semester is finally over. It flew by, but it truly was the hardest semester of my life. By the time finals week hit, I felt as if I was dragging myself to the finish line. Yet here I am, alive and well after a rough week and a rough semester. As much as I am grateful for all that the last few months have taught me, I am glad they are in the past. Getting through certain periods of life can be difficult, but worth it when you make it out on the other side.

Back in August, this semester seemed incredibly daunting. Taking 6 classes, working on campus, and maintaining a somewhat normal social life seemed impossible. But somehow, as the days and weeks passed, I got the hang of it. My life became routine, and I was accustomed to the time and energy needed from me to ensure that I was getting everything done. It was hard though. It was the hardest semester of my life. But here I am, finished with it, when at some points I didn't think that would be possible.

I am not sure what made this semester so difficult, but it was so much different than any other semester I have experienced in college. Maybe it was the envy I felt as friends of mine spent their semesters traveling Europe, while I was still in the same place doing the same thing. It was also possibly the fact that some people are starting to figure their live paths out, and I am still floundering around trying to figure out what I want my future to look like. Or maybe it was the fact that events of this semester combined in a way that made life very difficult to navigate. Life got a little too crazy, I was overthinking too much, and I got stuck in a rut of monotony trying to figure it all out.

The most substantial thing that I have learned over these last four months, though, is that it is so important to never bite off more than you can chew. I certainly did that this semester, and it took a toll on me. Instead of enjoying myself, as college students should, I felt as if I needed to continue to fulfill expectations of what I should be doing. Sure, my semester may look good on paper, but that doesn't amount to much when the experiences you take away aren't what you wanted them to be. Instead of being jealous of the people leading happy and interesting lives around me, I need to work on making my life what I want it to be. Even though taking on tons of commitments may seem like a good idea at first, it is always important to think of yourself as well, and decide if it's really the right decision.

I have one semester of college left, and I am ready for it. I am ready to take on work and school and a social life again, but I am also ready to care for myself a bit more. It is easy to get in over your head, and that is why this semester was so hard on me. Now, with my last semester of college ahead of me, I am going to prioritize making it a time of my life that I actually enjoy, too.