If you're like me, you've reached that point in the second semester when everything feels like it's happening at once. You are scheduled down to the minute, and somehow your professors have all scheduled large assignments to be due within three days of each other without consulting one another. Everyday, you feel like you are moving at hyper-speed yet you can't be done with the day's tasks soon enough. It can be hard to allow yourself time to even catch your breath because you're afraid you'll miss precious time you could be devoting to school or work. If this feels about right, you probably should keep reading. Here are five truths that even I find hard to believe at times, yet they're exactly what I needed to hear.

1. No matter the situation you are in, you can find happiness.

WAIT, I know what you're thinking." These are about to be sappy cliches that aren't going to help me one bit." But hear me out, because I make some good points (hopefully). You're going to have some really good days. Other times, you're just not. But I urge you to refrain from the habit of kicking yourself when you're down. Sure, it can be good to wallow in your self-pity at times, but doing this every time you have a hard test or two papers due on the same day is not how you should be treating yourself. Bad attitudes have a way of being contagious, and they can affect how you study, write, and communicate. Every day isn't going to be an awesome one. But at the end of the day, focus on the awesome parts, whether that be the cookie you splurged on for after lunch or just the fact that you made it through the day, and tomorrow WILL be better.

2. It's OK to take a break.

It's that time in the semester when you have at least two papers, one test, and five-ten other assignments and meetings to handle at the same time. It feels like your brain has switched into autopilot and the only thing you can stop for is a coffee refill. While it is always good to stay on top of your work, you also need to realize that, at some point, your mind and body need to rest. Whether it be going off campus with friends for a meal where you aren't intermittently finishing an assignment, or going to bed before 11:00 p.m. and putting off that last page of your paper until the morning, breaks are necessary and will result in better productivity in the long run.

3. What you are doing has a purpose.

With all these assignments due, you can't help but wonder, "Why?" It can feel pointless to write a ten-page paper for a class outside of your major or study for a week only to fail your midterm. "How are these assignments and classes helping me? What will they mean for me after college?" But every class you take, and ESPECIALLY those that feel particularly meaningless now, are working towards making you into a more well-rounded person. You may not realize it now, but after these four years are over, you are going to be a completely changed individual whether you like it or not. Changed for the better, I might add, because you have taken these classes and from them, developed a wide range of skills that you didn't even realize you needed.

4. That endless to-do list will come to an end.

You are completely lacking motivation, but you caffeine-fueled body and groggy mind persevere. Two hours later, and you've only crossed two things off of your to-do list of ten-plus assignments. Even after kicking butt on those first two things, you struggle to find any energy once you seen how much there is left to do. But you can do it. Trust me, you've made it this far in the semester and there's no turning back now. Pace your work and prioritize by what needs to be done tomorrow versus what can wait until next week. Soon enough, you will be filling out Course Evaluations and waving a sweet goodbye to those final papers.

5. You are creating opportunities for yourself everyday.

Cliche, again. I know. Even though it might not feel like it, every time that you go to that 8:00 a.m. class, make it to that "un-mandatory, but highly suggested" meeting, or stay an hour later at work, you are opening so many doors for yourself. Just know that your busy schedule goes to show how determined, hardworking, and challenge-accepting you are. So take pride in your work and your schedule, no matter how small some things may seem. You will be surprised by how many opportunities arise from the contacts and networks you are building each day.

So, breath. Count down from ten slowly and repeat until calm. And maybe even consider taking some of my points to heart because, at the end of the day, we are all awesome individuals who are striving to better ourselves every day.