A Personal Message: Check on Your Friends
Please remember to check in on your friends!
I thought that by now, we’d be back at school. And as I sit in my childhood bedroom, confined by the same walls that drove me crazy in High School, it often feels as if I am all out of hope. I can’t be the only one, can I? Many of us were picked up from the homes that we had built in Chicago only to be dropped back in places that we have since grown unaccustomed to. We’ve been shoved back into places that we no longer fit in — how are we supposed to remain motivated? I have sat and stared at this paragraph, rewritten it over and over, because I cannot seem to focus on anything longer than a minute. I have never been so unmotivated in my life and I want to know, where did it go? It was as if I woke up one day and all the motivation I had for my last semester was replaced with stress, fatigue, and worry. I know that from talking with my friends and seeing comments from other students that I’m not the only one.
So, what do we do? How do we combat this stress? I guess I haven’t quite figured out how to do that — I wish it was as simple as erasing it from our lives with a snap of our fingers but it’s not. We’re left with no choice but to face it head on and if I’m being honest, who wants to do that? I really don’t. So, how do we manage it? We all deal with stress in different ways but thankfully, there’s also so many different outlets for us to take advantage of. I’ve found comfort in reading, music, and talking with to my friends. Hell, I’ve even allowed myself to do a little online shopping. I know friends that have found comfort in video games, crafting, and schoolwork. It’s different for each of us, but it’s all about balance. Yes, school is important, but so is taking care of ourselves and outweighing the balance between stress and comfort. It’s not easy, but I have found ways to manage it, and I’m hoping that you all have too. Please remember to check in on your friends!
