I wasn’t looking forward to this semester. I remember coming home from work on my winter break, about a week before the semester was going to start up, and dread filling the pit of my stomach as I envisioned another semester of college. Fall semester was pretty rough and I knew I was probably overloading myself with Spring semester. I really had no clue how difficult this semester would really be. I had no clue how exhausted I would be. I had no clue that sleeping in on weekends would no longer be an option for me.
The truth is, I have to don a different hat at least 2-3 times a day. I go from one extreme to the other, with no time to rest or catch up. Emotionally? It’s exhausting.
Stephany, the Pre-School Teacher
I’ve been working at the preschool I’m at now for over a year now. The job has been good to me. It’s not easy but it feels like such an escape from my real life. I work with two- and three-year-olds and honestly, I love it. I love the funny conversations I have with the kids, the hugs and kisses they give me, and the challenges they provide me with. It is an exhausting job but it’s a good exhausting. I feel like I’ve been challenged in a different way that doesn’t involve school at all. I get to escape to a place where Dora rules the Universe, potty training is the biggest headache, and a hug can solve all problems. I say the words “my friends” and “potty” and “nice touches” more in my 5 hours there than I do for the rest of my day.
The hard part about my job is that I have to be fully committed. If I have an exam right after work, I can’t study for it during my time there. I start at 6:30 am and have at least 1-2 children there by 6:35 am. From then on, I’m preparing the classroom for the day, greeting kids as they come in, and making sure the kids are behaving. I have to be on the ball 24/7. My mind is constantly working and never slows down.
On Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays, I leave work at 12pm. On Tuesdays and Thursdays, I leave at 10:30am. And then I have 30 minutes (of which I’m driving to campus) to morph into…
Stephany, the College Student
I love being a college student. I love my campus, I love my classmates, and I love the challenges schoolwork brings me. But it can be really, really hard to switch off the mind of a teacher to one of a student. I have to forget about work and anything that stressed me out about it and focus on my schoolwork. I have to prepare myself for working on my magazine or studying for my next law exam or writing a paper.
This has become the biggest part of “me” lately. Because when I’m home, 85% of the time, I’m working on homework. I only have 4 weeks left of this semester, but I’m signed up to take 4 summer courses and then 4 courses in the fall, which will (HOPEFULLY!) be my last semester as an undergrad. This semester has been rough on me but I’m managing.
I have class Monday-Thursday. Monday, I only have one class at 12:30 pm and then I’m done for the day. On Wednesday, I have class at 12:30, internship at 2 pm, and then my night class at 6 pm. Tuesdays and Thursdays, I have class at 11 am, and then I head straight to my internship at 1 pm. I only have 15 minutes between the end of my class to morph into…
Stephany, the Marketing Intern
I have to admit, I really love my internship. It doesn’t involve a lot of journalism but I’m learning so much about advertising and marketing and just theater life in general. I’ve been challenged and taken on fun projects. I was just given a project to work on yesterday that I’m super stoked about. I’m a quiet person in general and very quiet at my internship. I don’t engage in a lot of small talk and just get in there and do my job.
This place is just so completely different than any other area of my life. It’s so different from being a preschool teacher (MILES different!) and so different from my school life. This is a professional atmosphere with professional people. They are all busy, busy, busy preparing for the next shows and making sure everyone is happy. They’re inspiring and I can’t wait to one day have the ability to have a fast-paced career like they have.
But it’s different. It’s a different atmosphere and I almost get an out-of-body experience working there. I have a cubicle that I share with the other two interns. I have a computer I work on. I even have a paper cutter all to myself! (Don’t be too jealous.) It’s fun stuff. But once I leave this place (at least on Tuesdays and Thursdays), I get to be the person I love most. I get to be…
Stephany, the Girl
Stephany the girl is who I really am. When I’m just being me, I’m in my element. I get to be funny and sarcastic. I get to be serious and sensitive. I get to blog and read blogs. I get to laze around and watch TV. I get to run and do yoga. I get to play with my dog and get the sweetest puppy kisses. I get to mess around with my brother and play with my nephew. I get to listen to Christian rock music on full blast and shop for things I don’t really need. I just get to be me.
But maybe all these facets are just little pieces of me that add up to a whole Stephany. All of these things are growing me into the woman I will one day become. It’s been a challenging semester and I have stretched myself pretty thin. But I love it. I love the things I’m experiencing and the challenges that I’m being presented with. I love how much I am growing and maturing through this semester. I love how I’m existing on little sleep, though I know I couldn’t do this for the long haul. I love how busy I am. I’m finding my purpose in my life. I’m finding out just how strong I am. I’m finding out I am capable. I can take on challenges and succeed. Ultimately, I’m finding myself through this craziness.
I love Stephanie the girl too 🙂 But most of your facets are all likable. >.<
I've always believed that you can learn from every experience, good or bad, easy or challenging. Although you have a lot on your plate at the moment, you sound like you're in a good place. You're really finding yourself through your different roles, and like you said, they all come together to make the person you are as a whole. You have a great attitude about everything, because I've known some people who were working, interning, and going to school who did nothing but complain. And you're not, you're learning from it. You're awesome! 🙂
Oh, wow.
I can SO relate to this.
There are so many parts of me between volunteering, working full-time, going to school full-time, and trying to live that I don't feel like I always know which way is up.
It's times like now though – the times where things are crazy busy – that truly define us as a person. My guess is that in 10 years from now, I'll look back at this time in my life and miss being involved in so much and the excitement that it's brought.
It is so often the crazy and unpredictable times that shape us into the people we will become for the rest of our lives. Your marketing internship sounds AMAZING, though – where do I get one? 🙂
You wear a lot of hats my friend! Take a step back every once in a while and enjoy who you are! Putting it on paper (or on screen) will definitely help! Maybe I should try something like this!
You're so awesome Steph. Loved reading this!
Loved this! Getting a glimpse into your life! I love that you work at a preschool – I'm thinking about studying education. (Okay, we have some crazy similarities.) And I would love to pick your brain about it!
Hope you're having a great week!
– Abbie
I love this idea for a post, and yeah, I can relate, big time.
You're wearing a lot of hats, friend! But that's what life is all about, struggling for balance with all of the different roles we play. Love learning more about you!
I'm blown away at your ability to achieve all of that. I'm just Katrina the disgruntled IT person.
I hope that you're able to achieve balance and happiness, despite your breakneck schedule.
So good! I love the many sides of you and how they make up you! You seem like a pretty awesome individual. Love love love.
Best,
Hannah Katy
That is a lot of hats to don but I think you're doing brilliantly.
Wow, you're definitely a busy woman!! I'm a marketing specialist and it's awesome. I agree about being quiet & just going in to do my job. I hate when the holiday dinners roll in because I don't want to go to those parties, haha.