As we all reach the middle of the spring semester at UNH, stress typically rises to an all-time high. What feels like will never end, actually flies by after all is said and done. Most of us take it day by day, week by week. Once we complete our midterms, get through finals week and pack up our dorm rooms, we are released for summer break. In May, we will all feel a huge sense of relief. We get to visit home and rekindle the relationships we built before becoming a Wildcat. To keep motivation and perspective during the most stressful time of the year, I tend to remind myself that summer is coming. The sun will set after 8pm. You will be driving to the beach with the windows down screaming 2000s throwbacks with your friends. You can stay up all night laughing with your girls. You will have tan skin. Life will bring you endless elation in just a few months. Keep pushing through.
One thing I like to do to motivate myself at this stressful time in the semester is to look at old pictures from last summer. Remember all of the spontaneous adventures, the feeling of letting go of that rope swing and submerging yourself in the water, the sun against your skin when you’re tanning on the beach, waking up next to all of your friends at a lake house ready to go to the Kanc or making s’mores around the campfire talking about life. These memories keep me going and remind me that all of the hard work pays off every year. Being rewarded with a stress-free summer that I can fully dedicate to making memories is truly priceless.
I try to remember that having a summer does not last forever, unless you are a teacher or work at a ski resort. Going into medicine, a very time-consuming profession, I try my hardest to fill every day with new memories and adventures with the people I love most. While we’re studying for exams and stressing about academics, try to remember that this time in our lives doesn’t last forever. Trying to make the most of every day can seem impossible at this point in the semester, but being young is a blessing. Just remember Better Days are coming, and it will feel so much more deserved after you kick ass this semester. You can do this!
HCXO,
Kait <3