Being sick or injured in college sucks. It's a known fact. Unfortunately, sometimes you get so sick or injured that you miss a week of school or more for surgery, rest, and doctors appointments. This can turn your whole world upside down in a matter of hours. Being unable to go to class and hear the lecture to take your own notes, being unable to do the hours of nightly homework assigned, and being just unable to go outside takes a toll on your mental health and your stress load. But, eventually, there's a light at the end of the tunnel. You just have to get through a few more sleepless nights of homework, and eventually you'll make it.

My fun story is that two weeks ago, I had surgery on my wrist. I can't say it's my first because this is my fourth surgery this year, but the makeup work continues to catch me by surprise. The rather unforgiving professors who will threaten you with zeros when you're too busy making up work for other classes to make up theirs on short notice drive me up a wall. And, even when you're trying to catch up, don't forget you're also being tested on current material just to keep driving your grade down. But hey, "C's get degrees" am I right? *Cries*

The hardest part about having surgery is being unable to keep doing everything you want to do, and having to make time for physical therapy. Finding two hours of your day most days of the week can be hard. And even then, watching your progress happen so slowly when three months ago you could flex your wrist 90* in both ways is frustrating. But, hey when you're pulling an all nighter, you get a little extra time for a fourth round of PT exercises! And, sometimes you get to learn new things like how to applaud in American Sign Language or how to march and play the trumpet in the marching band. These new skills can open your mind up to other fun things down the road that you might have never even tried before.

The hardest thing to remember is that eventually it's all worth it, and eventually none of this is going to matter, so long as you pass your classes and get a decent GPA. But, you have to take care of yourself too. Four late nights with little sleep won't matter in two weeks but maybe it's smart to take a short nap during the day so you remember to lock your apartment door when you run out of it to makeup an in-class essay... (ooops.) And, even though it's hard to eat when you're stressed out, and you don't even really have time, set aside 10 minutes to eat something. Even if it's half a banana, you're basically working double time to heal and stay up late getting everything done. Your body will thank you for it.