I'm currently about half way through my second to last quarter of college. I'm so close to graduating, I can taste it. There's been so much hard work that has gone into me getting to this point and I'm incredibly proud of the things I've accomplished in school and where that hard work has brought me.

However, within the last few months, I've begun to resent school. I know, this sounds a little strange since I'm so close to being done with it. You'd think I'd only be feeling excitement and maybe a little bittersweet about it all coming to a close. But with it coming to a close, I've begun to realize how thoroughly school has taken over my life.

With graduation looming, I've been desperately trying to get things in order for my life after college. Not only is this overwhelming in and of itself — making decisions that will shape and mold my future — but I've come to the realization that school has completely taken over my life. It feels like I haven't had a spare moment to just breathe since this quarter started because I've been drowning in the amount of work that has been given to me by my professors.

I've dealt with this sort of thing before but never has it made me so fed up and resentful of school. It's gotten to the point where I'm so busy with homework and classes that I don't even have time to plan and look forward to what school has been preparing me for my entire life — the "real world," a career, a future. It's so wrong on so many levels.

For nearly my entire life — for as long as I can remember — school has been what shaped my life. Oftentimes it has been the more significant aspect of my life (as it is with many people who are in school). I've been a student for nearly 19 years and the thing with being a student is that there's no off switch. When you're a student, you're always a student — there's no clocking out and going home to rest.

Either you're in class, you're doing homework, or you're preparing for classes tomorrow. Having to be on like that all the time is exhausting — physically, mentally, and emotionally. Students shouldn't have to feel like they have to give up pieces of themselves and their own interests just to get an A.

The pressure school puts on us is more damaging than it may seem. I can't count the number of times I've pulled all-nighters studying or working on assignments, oftentimes stress-crying. I've felt it takes a toll on me and I'm so tired of it. Learning shouldn't be such a stressful, toxic experience.

This isn't to say that I'm not grateful for the opportunity I have to attend college — I am. This has been something me and my family have worked toward since I was a child and I'm happy to see myself here and in the position to further my education. However, school too often saps all the love students have for learning.

School turned learning into a chore and something to be dreaded rather than excited about. It takes over our entire life until there's no room for any of the other things we should be putting time and effort into like social groups, physical activity, and hobbies.

It's gotten to the point where it's oftentimes unhealthy for students and something needs to change. We need to cut back on the amount of time and the pressure that school puts on our lives.