How I Stayed Strong During One of My Hardest Moments

Introduction 

Stressful moments are something that everyone goes through, and no one is alone in experiencing them. One stressful moment that really affected me personally was and still is balancing school, work, and everything else. My freshman year was the hardest, balancing all this while starting out on my own in a new environment as an adult. I felt like I had no time to breathe, and that everything

was happening at the same time, so I couldn't take a break. At first, I really did not know how I was going to handle four years of this stress, but looking back, it actually helped me grow into the person I am today. 

The Challenge

There was a point in the first semester of my college career when I had multiple assignments due, back-to-back work shifts, and barely any time for myself or my hobbies. I

started to feel very stressed and unmotivated to do anything but work, school, eat, sleep, and just repeat it. It wasn’t just about being busy. I felt like I couldn't catch up no matter how hard I tried. After feeling like this for a while, I realized that if I kept going like that, I was going to burn out very quickly. 

What Helped Me Overcome It 

After feeling that way for some time, what really helped me was learning to manage my time better and taking small breaks when I needed them. I started using Google Calendar to plan out my days, which made everything feel more organized and clear. I would also remind myself that it’s okay not to be perfect all the time, and that just trying and doing my best is enough. Another big thing that helped me was staying positive. Even when things felt stressful, I tried to focus on what I could control rather than on everything that could go wrong. 

What I Learned

This experience taught me a lot about myself. I learned how to manage my time better and how important it is to take care of myself, not just focus on school or work. It also made me realize that I’m more capable than I think, even when things feel overwhelming. I started to understand my limits and when I need to slow down rather than push myself too hard. It also taught me that asking for

Help is okay and doesn’t mean you’re weak.

Final Thought

At the time, it felt like my life was falling apart, and it was one of the hardest moments I had gone through, but I see it differently now. Overcoming this obstacle made me feel more confident in myself and proud of what I was accomplishing as I earned a college degree. Looking back on this moment sometimes reminds me that, even when things feel overwhelming, I can get through it step by step, keep pushing, and that it is important to take care of myself and not focus solely on responsibilities.