Mastering the art of GIT (getting it together) for the spring semester

5 a.m. Beep.. beep…beep…beep.

The dreadful sound of the alarm clock electrocutes my right ear and I groan inwardly. As part of a reflex process, I open my eyes slowly and hit the snooze button, and drift back to dreamland sluggishly.

6 a.m. Beep…beep…beep…beep.

The irritating sound of the alarm repeats all over again, and this time without bothering to open my eyes, I angrily unplug the alarm clock.

One outcome is indeed guaranteed, I end up waking up at 8 a.m., yet my class was supposed to start at 7 30 a.m!

Dear spring semester…

It has only been five days since I welcomed you with heartfelt warmth and sincerity. Yet, the five days already seem like an unending five months. I feel like I’m part of the cast of Survivor, the only variant being that the setting is completely different. My very own Survivor is marked by completely new classes, new professors, new housing… all has just been made new. My life is completely turned around. From the honors-related courses class to the Global Politics classes, I wonder if I can ever get through it all. During the past week, I have really been probing myself to understand what on earth made me sign up for an early morning class.  It’s still quite a pain trying to adjust my  sleeping habits. Fall break taught me to be a semi-Netflix addict, watching Law and Order and The Hunger Games all night long. Waking up at 3 p.m. every day also came with the package.

Beloved spring semester, I had been anticipating your arrival restlessly, convincing myself I was more than ready for you. My three paged resolutions all seem to have gone down the drain.  All resolute has vanished, and so the countdown begins. Exactly 50 days to spring break, and 114 more days to summer break.

An open letter to the 14-year old me…

I’m still the younger version of me, only now a bit matured. I still have the ambition we had a few years ago. I still remember the never give up and never surrender pact we made a few years ago. Only that the rules have been toned down a little.

They say self-care, and self-love are the major components of a fulfilling life. Therefore, in as much as I am going to work hard towards attaining those A’s…. those late night grilled cheese sessions and gelato fiasco can never hurt. Looking forward to the ASU vs. Stanford basketball game is entirely tolerable. I have also learned that it is not a sin to explore new things, such as signing up for that Hip Hop class and taking myself on a date to that small expensive restaurant down Mill Avenue once in a blue moon. It is absolutely okay to say no to too many responsibilities, and accept only what I know will not burn me out. It is also normal to secretly look forward to that “class is cancelled” email or the “suspicious package has been detected…please avoid the area” warnings and inwardly pray the suspicious package is in the building where I was supposed to have your English class. It is totally okay to go out with friends for a hike now and again, and above all do that Wonder Woman power pose from time to time.

Thus, I am going to check out that upcoming Quidditch tournament in a few weeks time, join Changemaker Central and transform the world in the smallest possible ways, do some Zumba dances with Keaira Lashae intermittently. Above all be able to just smile, after all, you only live once!