College be college-ing bro

20's Associates liberal arts foreign language. Current undergrad.

[myyellow-brickroad]

Mental Health in Education

An overlooked area in education is students mental health and its roll on their education.

The last two semesters (Spring and Fall 2023) I struggled a lot with my mental health, this past fall being one of the lowest points. I struggled to leave my room yet alone get to classes. And it wasn't because I didn't care, I felt terrible, but I just couldn't do anything. It took a lot of discussions with my therapist and one friend specifically who really knew how I was feeling to convince me that I needed to step away.

I was diagnosed with depression and ADHD and so much started to add up. I knew I had depression, but I didn't know about ADHD and learning about it and what the things I struggle with were actually symptoms of it it was validating. For once I was able to separate my intelligence and my executive function (or lack there of). It was not that I wasn't smart or dedicated or didn't care, but I literally have something in my brain that make the basic functions terribly difficult.

I have started medication for them and it has been going well. The first depression medication THIS time worked. In the past I was put on medications and each one made me significantly worse so I was terrified to try again, I was already in the lowest point, I couldn't handle something making my depression worse than where it was at the moment. ADHD took a few tries. First one I couldn't remember to take it twice a day, the second long release but not strong enough. This dose seems to be better. What has been craziest about the adhd meds is that I didn't know your brain was supposed to be this quiet? I always had a constant sound in my head, or thoughts, the sound never stopped. Not in another mental illness way, just.. sound? I have no words to describe it besides that. And as a result, it has been easier to get work done without all the brain clutter. WILD.

I do plan to return to school. I have professors from my last semester that are allowing me to finish their courses so I can fix my grades and GPA which is extremely nice of them. I can't wait to return hopefully with a better head on my shoulders and a plan on how to deal with my brain and its triggers.

All this to say, it is ok to be struggling with mental health. If you are struggling in school because of it and you feel ashamed, that is okay and normal, but don't hold too much against yourself. It is normal to be disappointed when you aren't where you used to be, but life isn't linear. If you can, talk to someone, reach out. Send emails to your professors, many are willing to work with you is you are willing to communicate. People paint education in a positive light and its not always that. It isn't nice study sessions, knowing content right away, being able to turn things in early or on time, being able to workout and eat healthy and passing all the time. Shit is fucking hard. I will be okay and you will be too. Don't give up on your dreams.

[myyellow-brickroad]

I am going to change the username for this blog eventually but I forgot this existed.

A few little updates since I was last active:

I graduated with my Associates degree

I got accepted into my dream 4 year university and am currently studying there.

I am taking a semester off due to mental health which I will make another post about.

I am looking at what it takes to move onto the next level of degrees and what I want to focus on.

[aztrolab-deactivated20200927]

I feel that in the studyblr community nobody actively talks about the study environment some of us have, so shoutout to those students that:

• live with their parents (not everyone goes to college/uni where they have dorms, and even then, not everyone can afford it)

• have to deal with parents/family members constantly arguing in the background

• work / have to worry heavily about just getting by (paying rent, groceries, medication)

• need loud music to study and drown outside noises

• can not "study prettily" at coffee shops

• take care of other family members, and thus have to be ready to drop whaterever they are doing to assist them at any time

• can not concentrate or get "in the zone" no matter what they do

• do not have a personal computer/tablet

• do not have a room of their own

• are neurodivergent and the advice of most study masterpost/tips is not applicable.

You are valid, you are seen, you are not alone. If nobody has told you already: if you are trying the best you can then the best you can is good enough.

sincerely, a student who needed to hear this.

[tanda-soal]

@bibliophilicwitch​‘s Tomes and Tea

My French Press finally arrived. Move aside, coffee snobs. There’s a new girl in town ;)

[obenny]

I'm passionate about moving forward in the healthiest way

[myyellow-brickroad]

How I am handling college during covid. Lets chat, how are you guys?

Me? 

I have been extremely silent on here, and I think that online school has severely injured my love for school and more specifically college. I am well aware that this is not normal times, and that it was never this bad, but I am finding it hard to have to motivation to get up and do my work with so little interaction with professors, classmates and being on campus with friends and people I am in clubs with. I think also having worked through these last few months after losing my Uncle who raised me was probably not the healthiest or proper way to grieve. 

I have learned that I am an extrovert and I like to stay busy, but with everything in one area it feels like there is no distinction. No difference in time. I feel as though I have not done any work while also like I am constantly working. I don’t see club members or friends and we don't get to work together. Office hours are not a thing online, and you hardly have the opportunity to communicate to get clear ideas and feedback. All things that I used to be able to do and helped me to be a better student and better person. 

To wrap this up, college is hard right now. And I think I might take a major break from it. At least only continuing this next semester with the class that pertains to my degree and is not just filler requirement basic classes. I think I need time to sit back, learn to love reading and learning again. Maybe some time not working for a grade with no help will help me and give me the time to put towards learning other things I am passionate about but am not studying and don’t usually have the time to dedicate to. 

I feel like if I continue school right now in this way I will grow to hate college or not be able to distinguish this era with normal college to the point I leave with no intention to go back. And that is the last thing I want to do. I love school and I know that, and I want my degrees and career. 

[captainofstudies]

8/4/2020 | morning coffee ☕

[myyellow-brickroad]

Long time no see!

Covid has made the last Spring and Summer semester really difficult if I am being transparent. I have also been the only person working in my house sense quarantine so added stress. 

FIRST DAY OF THE FALL 2020 SEMESTER THOUGH AND THIS GIRL IS EXCITED!!! Taking all classes I am actually very interested in, Spanish, Multiculturalism and Diversity in the classroom, Multiethnic American Lit, and Nutrition. Should be a good semester! 

This summer I actually had an internship and I got to focus my work on creating a resource guide for our Spanish Speaking community and gave a presentation in Spanish to the board and for some important state representatives so that was really cool and nerve wracking. But I enjoy testing myself, and putting my degree to good use already. And I plan to continue to create those type of resources for my college as a work study. 

[myyellow-brickroad]

If you celebrate it: 

Happy Easter! I hope you have a friend or family member you live with to spend the day with. Give a loved one a call.

If you dont celebrate that is ok too! I hope you still have a good day and people to keep you company. Reach out as well. It is super important to keep in contact with people we care about. 

If you are an essential during these crazy times, I hope you are safe. Thank you for your work, you do not go unnoticed. Mail delivery people, post office workers, janitors, grocery store workers, doctors/nurses/CNA’s, farmers. And everything inbetween. THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU. 

[myyellow-brickroad]

A real conversation 4/10/2020

First, I want to start this off that I hope everyone and their families are healthy through all of these crazy times. 

Second, I just want to talk about where I am out. And I feel like this is something I don’t always see talked about too much on studyblr because we tend to just want to talk about how we are doing good and our successes, but sometimes life happens yall. And that is ok. 

I will be transparent when I say that I am struggling a bit. Mentally which has played a little part in my academic life as well. Having going from a person who was out and busy with school or work or other obligations 15+ hours a day to being home has been a struggle. It has been hard for me to stay motivated and there are days where I spend most of it in bed. I have gotten a little behind on school work and I am trying to catch up while also struggling to get out of bed, and it sucks. But its ok, and I talked to an advisor who reminded me that we only have one month left. One Month. I can get through this (and so can you). Hell, I failed one of my quizzes for the first time.

I know I can’t complain because I am healthy, so is my family, but this is just a reminder that it is ok to be struggling right now. (and in fact, at any time it is ok). We are going through a crazy period and none of us know how to handle these changes that have been put on us, and we are going to be exhausted mentally and physically from it. 

Just remember to take care of yourself. Self care. Even if it is turning off the phone and reading, or stretching or yoga, calling a friend if you have the means. If you have access to clean water, make sure you are drinking water. 

Be kind to yourself. Check on friends. Take one day at a time. Heck, if that seems too much, one hour, 10 minutes at a time. You got this. 

[estrellablogg]

Dayan herşey güzel olacak .. 🌻

[violentwavesofemotion-deactivat]

Gabriela Mistral, tr. by Langston Hughes, from Selected Poems; “Quietness,”

[positivelyg4y]

[myyellow-brickroad]

A real conversation 4/10/2020

First, I want to start this off that I hope everyone and their families are healthy through all of these crazy times. 

Second, I just want to talk about where I am out. And I feel like this is something I don’t always see talked about too much on studyblr because we tend to just want to talk about how we are doing good and our successes, but sometimes life happens yall. And that is ok. 

I will be transparent when I say that I am struggling a bit. Mentally which has played a little part in my academic life as well. Having going from a person who was out and busy with school or work or other obligations 15+ hours a day to being home has been a struggle. It has been hard for me to stay motivated and there are days where I spend most of it in bed. I have gotten a little behind on school work and I am trying to catch up while also struggling to get out of bed, and it sucks. But its ok, and I talked to an advisor who reminded me that we only have one month left. One Month. I can get through this (and so can you). Hell, I failed one of my quizzes for the first time.

I know I can’t complain because I am healthy, so is my family, but this is just a reminder that it is ok to be struggling right now. (and in fact, at any time it is ok). We are going through a crazy period and none of us know how to handle these changes that have been put on us, and we are going to be exhausted mentally and physically from it. 

Just remember to take care of yourself. Self care. Even if it is turning off the phone and reading, or stretching or yoga, calling a friend if you have the means. If you have access to clean water, make sure you are drinking water. 

Be kind to yourself. Check on friends. Take one day at a time. Heck, if that seems too much, one hour, 10 minutes at a time. You got this. 

[tlatollotl]

Link to textbooks - https://www.cambridge.org/core/what-we-publish/textbooks

Original tweet - https://twitter.com/MiShee54/status/1239960873982144512

[we-are-all-one-tribe]

[jonaaaa]