Senior year sometimes feels like a juggling act, and I’m in the center of the circus ring. I find myself frantically researching jobs, internships, and graduate programs, filling out applications, working on thesis on top of work for other classes, and participating in my extracurricular commitments, all while trying to have fun with my friends this last semester before we go our separate ways. I wonder, how does one get through all that I have to do? I by no means have this figured out, but can share a few things I’ve learned to do when life gets chaotic.

I have had my fair share of rejection in college – In seven semesters, I have never been offered a paying job on campus. Whenever I receive a rejection, I find it helpful to list things, either in my head or on paper, that are positive aspects of myself, my life, or even my day. For example, I was rejected from an internship I felt very passionate about, and started to think I would be rejected from everything in the future. Instead of getting into a self-deprecating mode, I tried thinking about my accomplishments rather than my failures….”I’ve really helped my violin student to improve her recital piece,” “I’m at a great school that opens me up to endless opportunities” or “I made a connection with this alumna that I’m going to pursue”. Over time, I find myself thinking more positively, I revamp my resume, put out more applications, and feel ready to tackle the next goal.

Another thing I learned to keep sane is to simply balance work with play. This used to be easy, but now with extra stressors, it’s harder than ever to fit in friend-time. I don’t want to look back on my senior year and only remember all of the hard work, but the memories. This is why I’ve decided to bring out my old “California Bucket List” from freshman year my roommate and I made. It includes typical Los Angeles excursions like “spend a day at Disneyland” and “walk the Hollywood walk of fame”  – things to break up the study time-routine with things to experience with my friends before our time here is up. It’s daunting to think I’m not going to be surrounded by the same friends I have been with for years, which is why I find it helpful to commiserate with them, and make plans to see each other in the future.

My question is, what do you do to keep sane through all the stress?