Before starting college, I had no idea what I wanted to major in but I quickly figured out what I didn't want to do for the rest of my life.

Like most things I do, choosing my major was impulsive. I hated science, I was terrible at math, I couldn't imagine being a teacher: my life started to feel like a race against a clock. I would schedule appointments with the career center, my advisor, and anyone that would see me until I could see a clear path for myself.

Finally, someone asked about me: what I liked to do and what skills came easily. No one had ever stopped to ask me that and the question startled me. I would always ask myself the hard questions like what could I envision for myself, what is something that I would wake up every day and not dread? A simple question. What do you like to do?

From that, my advisor introduced me to Public Relations with the type of answer that non-public relations majors give. Either way, I was sold. I immediately declared my first major and realized soon after that so many of the classes correlated with my second major, Multimedia Journalism.

Just like declaring my first major, I added Journalism because it sounded good. Also, because who wouldn't want a double major?

Here we are, I'm almost done with my second semester as a double-major going into my junior year of college and here is what I've learned from my experience:

1. Take your time

I used to try to put off doing anything fun until I was completely done with all my work, but with a double-major that strategy is basically impossible. There is always something else to do and it isn't worth drowning in homework and giving yourself no time to do things you enjoy.

You will quickly run out of fuel and end up being less productive because you feel like you're missing out.

Working in a group of friends has a way of making your workload seem a little less heavy, or it's just a distraction but either way, as long as the work gets in on time and you tried your hardest then what does it matter what circumstances you did it in.

Don't be afraid to waste a little time: just make sure you crack down before you leave too much work for the last-minute.

2. Don't let anyone, even advisors, tell you what your college priorities should be

Two majors means you will have multiple advisors and they will try to prioritize their classes. Don't fall into the pressure.

My previous semester I was killing myself trying to take 16 Journalism classes, averaging about six to eight hours of homework a day, which included 100-300 pages of reading a night. I was overworking myself to the point that I felt drained.

Prioritize your mental health over anything else.

3. Follow your own path

You're not doing what your friends are doing.

Don't force yourself to take on too much for fear of graduating late.

Don't be afraid to take summer or winter classes if that's what you need to do.

Stay an extra semester or two if necessary, there is no shame to following your own path.

4. Find help when you're overwhelmed

The hardest thing is admitting when you're overwhelmed.

I'm not talking a little tired or feeling unsure sometimes, I have felt overwhelmed to the point that I wasn't sure what I was doing and where to go from where I was.

My thoughts quickly became obsessive about grades and what I should be doing. How I could improve and why I wasn't.

This will eventually weigh on your mental ability.

When this happens, I don't care if you have hours of work ahead of you: take a 20-minute break, close your eyes and breath. Talk to your friends, eat a snack, watch Netflix. Do whatever you have to do to bring yourself back to a stable mindset.

5. Pick yourself up and do it again

Days will get hard; some will be long, tiring, and you will feel like the degree isn't even worth it sometimes.

It is.

The hours you put into your school-work will reward you in your future work.