The start of a new semester can be a very exciting time for college students. For me, it means reuniting with my sorority sisters, starting new classes, and returning to a routine that I had rejected for almost four whole months.

When syllabus week rolls around, I take out my agenda and spend a few hours organizing assignments for my classes in an attempt to avoid missing deadlines for future papers and projects. I make sure not to fall behind because I know how easy it is for me to become overwhelmed with stress—I even go as far as reading some of my textbooks over the summer to lighten up my work load for the upcoming semester (English major problems). So much for that break, right?

For the first few weeks of school, I’m successful. Procrastination is at an all-time low, and my homework is completed for the next few weeks—I even have time to do things for fun, like Starbucks runs with my sisters or binge watching an entire season of Parks and Recreation...in one day. But as the semester drags on and my workload increases, so do my extra-curricular activities: sorority events, newspaper meetings, not to mention my two on-campus jobs.

Before I know it, it’s a Wednesday night, and I have a ten page draft due the next day. “How did this even happen?!” I ask myself. Not only am I overcome with panic, the stress that I had been trying to avoid creeps its way throughout my body and latches itself to me.

Some might say, “Well, why do you choose to do so much? You don’t have to be in clubs or organizations,” to which I say—been there, done that. Freshman year, I was a hermit who didn’t go out and meet people, and instead, spent entire weekends locked in my dorm (with my wonderful roommate who was also part-hermit, bless her) to do homework. I was so unhappy with what little time I had for other things besides school that I questioned if sacrificing my happiness was worth it.

It was around this time that I went to my first sorority event and met an amazing group of girls who were not only involved in multiple on-campus organizations, but were also the leaders of them. Next semester, I became a sister of said sorority, and the girls inspired me to make sure I wasn’t sacrificing all my time and happiness for school, and that it was okay to continue doing things I love.

I am not saying to put off your schoolwork, but I’m also not saying to put off that episode of

Parks and Rec or that two hour nap that you probably really need. The most important thing that you can try to do is find a balance, and it won’t always happen perfectly. I am learning that. I’ve always believed that getting good grades is what’s most important, but I hate that I’ve let the fear of not getting As on every single assignment influence my decision to not take advantage of other opportunities and experiences that my college provides. So take that nap! Watch that episode! Hang out with your friends! College is also about experiences, and we shouldn’t be avoiding them to spend time with our notebooks.