Driven

Wow…I can’t believe I’ve been in school a month already. I survived my first major hit of tests (all within two days of each other. joy), but studied hard and did well. I’m slightly proud of myself for keeping up with my study habits. Let’s face it: I have never taken time off from school. I’ve been in school every year since I was in kindergarten, and since I started undergrad I’ve only taken one summer off. The rest of summers I loaded myself down with internships, summer classes, working in labs, working part time jobs (there was one summer where I was taking a night class and juggling three part-time jobs and one on-call job). Come to think of it, I was just as intense during the school year. I always maxed myself on credits, ran two clubs, volunteered at the SPCA and nursing homes when I could, and worked in the neuro lab. I never had weekends either: Fridays and Saturdays nights I spent waiting tables and bartending and Sunday mornings I would serve as a Eucharistic minister. I’ve talked to some of my friends from back then, and asked what I was like back then. They told me that I was “fun, but a little crazy about work.” I can see that. I remember quite keenly my senior fall semester, cramming for the GRE’s, working as a lab assistant, taking a graduate level neuropathology course and an intense neuroanatomy course, getting sick 5 times. Five separate colds between September and December of that year. That's just silly. :-)

I look back and cannot figure out how I never burnt out. After graduation, I spent the next two months recovering, and then moved to Austin and started grad school at the end of August.

Austin has changed me. I still consider myself to be focused and driven, but in a more balanced way. I’ve prioritized my life, and made more room for fun and friends and love. I’ve learned to chill. :-)

Hmm. Other news, the insomnia is still an issue. I think I’m just a night owl by nature. I know I can do it, I know I can eventually alter my clock so I’m up at 6:30 am, and in bed by 11:30, but it’s taking so long to get there. Switching to a nocturnal schedule has never been a problem for me…I can get back into that groove in about 2 days. But I’ve been trying to get on a more appropriate sleep schedule for my current class/work day, and it’s been over a month of failure. I’ve tried withholding naps, I’ve tried not looking at the clock, but I’m still wide-awake until 2 am. I’ve tried some OTC sleep aids, but they leave me feeling incredibly groggy the next day. My Mom and sister swear by Sleepytime chamomile tea. Maybe I will give that a shot this week. Any other suggestions??