I CAN Do It!

Right now I'm stretched to my absolute limit. I thought last term in school was tough, but this term is proving to be much more challenging. My class load is only three classes (10 hours) but it is the classes I chose that pose the difficulty.

Human Anatomy and Physiology is proving to be the most challenging. It's not that the material is THAT difficult, but it's extremely time consuming to retain all the information necessary to make an A in the class. (I refuse to settle for less than an A.) I just completed my first of five exams in the class tonight and I feel absolutely exhausted. I must have spent nearly 20 hours studying and I didn't walk out feeling it was a "for sure" A on the test. I'm not sure how I'll feel if I earned less than an A on this test. I've been back in school for almost a year and thus far, I have not earned a single grade lower than an A on any assignment. This is my big class, this is the most important for the nursing program - a B is going to be really difficult to swallow on this test.

Second is Statistics. I've always been extremely strong in math, so I chose to take Statistics online. It is an extremely challenging course full of terminology that is like trying to read Greek without any former knowledge of Greek. But that's not my biggest challenge with the subject; I can learn terminology, I can work problems. I'm logical and math relies on logic. My biggest challenge with the class is I HAVE ABSOLUTELY NO INTEREST IN IT! I think this is the first math class I've ever taken that I found absolutely boring and dull. I have a difficult time focusing my attention on the material when I find it this boring. Thankfully, I'm still maintaining an A in the class; I just can't wait until it's over.

Lastly is my "easy" class - Professions of Caring aka Intro to Health Care. I'm also taking this class online and it is the least time consuming, least demanding of the three. However, I have a few projects that are gearing up for the course which I'm going to need to devote time to interviewing individuals. I need to interview a current RN, an elderly person and a college advisor. While the work will not be difficult, it will just be a challenge getting it worked in to the already packed study hours I have.

I sound like I'm complaining. I'm really not. I'm so thankful I have the opportunity to go back to school. I'm thankful I'm able to maintain good grades and work towards my end goal. I just feel very burnt out tonight. Between work, school, the baby that won't go to bed and cries as soon as you lay him down, the late nights, the long days, the early mornings of getting up to get a few extra hours of studying in before starting the day, weekends spent of skipping birthday parties and family gatherings, sitting at a desk with the nose in the books. I'm just tired.

I know in the end it will all be worth it. I know once I have my degree, I pass my boards and I look back at the sleepless nights and the zombie days, I'll feel a huge sense of accomplishment for all my hard work.

Tonight, I think I'll try to go to bed early (yes, it is after 11pm, but this is early these days).