I get by with a little help from my friends

Well, I've officially hit the mid-semester "slump" (that's an akward word to see written down). I feel like I can't read another page, write another paper, or take another test. Within the past two days, I've stared at a book that I have to read for my religion class and barely made a dent, oops. It's getting cold outside and all I want to do is curl up in bed and watch reruns of One Tree Hill with a cup of hot apple cider. Well, I know that I can't do this so I decided to google "How to get over the mid-semester slump" and this is what I came up with:

1. Go to class- easier said that done! I've only missed one this semester but every morning when my 13th alarm goes off I'm still groaning in bed but I'm determined!

2. Prioritize- But I've become so good at procrastination! I haven't filled out my planner in 2 weeks so it looks like I need to get organized again.

3. Use your friends- Thank goodness for my awesome physics partners, ya'll keep me sane, and all of my other study buddies! Life would be sad without you!

4. Take a break- Rachel, you best be ready for a few dance parties! Plan ahead and pick a night when you aren't going to do any homework and get shit done beforehand! This sounds impossible but I am going to try it since there are a so many movies that I want to see.

I hope these tips help anyone else struggling along with my right now. Only 3 more weeks until Thanksgiving break, thank goodness!

Happiness

This weekend I was at home for fall break, which was so wonderful and it was so nice to have a break from the pressures of school, and I got to hang out with some of my best friends from high school. We were talking when one of my friends asked, "Where do you want to be in 2 years?"

This question really got me thinking because 2 years seems like a long time but I feel like it is going to fly by. I can't believe that I'm already over halfway done with my undergraduate degree and all of my elders keep telling me that time keeps moving faster the older you get. Well, we decided to write down where we want to be in 2 years and we are planning on getting together to go over these lists when the time comes to see if we achieved everything we were hoping to.

So, where do I want to be in 2 years?

I hope that I have a teaching job somewhere and I hope that I am enjoying it as much as I am hoping that I will. I don't have a place where I want to teach but I'm hoping I can stay in the Minnesota/North Dakota area. Along with having my first "real" job, I also want to buy my first car!

Within the next 2 years I want to travel outside of the US, preferably outside of North America. Everyone says to travel while your in college because you may never find the time when you are older and I'm hoping that I can embark on some amazing journeys, hopefully with some of my amazing friends!

I would love to be in a relationship, maybe be in love, or even engaged! I hope that my special someone is out there!

There were many other things that I wrote down but as I was reading through my list I thought, what does all of this really matter if I'm not happy? In 2 years, no matter where I am in the world, what I'm doing, or what I've accomplished, I hope that I am happy with all of the decisions that I have made and where I am in my life.

"Remember this, that very little is needed to make a happy life." -Marcus Aurelius

Appreciation

So recently I went home for the weekend and I realized how much has changed in my life. I spent my first summer on my own and had to start being accountable for many new things in my life. I didn't even consider going home for the summer because there was no way that I wanted to live with my parents again. I couldn't wait to get out of Park Rapids and I had no desire to ever go back.

I think that living on my own really made me grow up this summer. I miss my family more than ever and I feel like I have really started to appreciate all the things that they have done for me while I was growing up. I appreciate all of the little things that my hometown has to offer with the lakes and it is so gorgeous in the fall. I'm not sure if I want to live there right after I graduate college but I could definitely see myself settling down there in the future, preferably with an amazing husband and kids.

Being away really opened my eyes to how fast I'm growing up and how I'm going to be an adult in less than two years. Thinking about having my own classroom and living by myself is a scary thought but with my amazing friends and family I know that I can face anything that comes my way.

Lots of love to my amazing parents, sisters, and friends! I can't thank you enough for all you do for me.