Going to a highly academically focused University such as the Colorado School of Mines is one of the biggest challenges, accomplishments, and adventures that you could embark upon. These past four years have been absolutely incredible and I wouldn't trade them for the world. But I have learned many things about myself and about life that I wouldn't have known if I wouldn't have taken the leap of faith in becoming a geological engineer at CSM.

I firmly believe in our school's 'work hard, play hard' philosophy. On any given weekday, you will find every Mines student hunkered down at Starbucks or the library, studying their butts off for upcoming tests, working on projects, finishing homework assignments... We have tutoring and lecture sessions outside of normal classes, not to mention meetings and mandatory activities for the many extracurriculars Mines students are involved in.

We are all here because we have constantly been overachievers, "try-hards", driven, motivated and impressive. We strive to do our best in all areas of our life and commit ourselves to doing the best job possible. Weekdays are for hard work, late nights, inevitable stress and I'm giving myself a headache just thinking about it...

BUT it's all about balance. There is no way that we could all work as hard as we do during the week without a little R&R. Though different people may have their own methods of recuperating on the weekend, it's necessary for everyone to find what strategy is most effective for them to recharge for the busy week ahead. Whether your version of the perfect weekend is girls nights and endless time in bed with netflix, or camping and a hiking adventure in the mountains, or simply going out on the town and dancing your problems away; we all need to learn to "treat yo self" on the three magical days known as the weekend.

And then there's those once in a blue moon weeks where two of your classes got cancelled, you magically got minimal amounts of homework to do, and you can safely spend the entire week relaxing and going to bed at a reasonable hour. But until then, rest easy on the weekends my friends. :)