A New Semester for Anybody?

I am starting my next semester of grad school tomorrow. I still haven't bought my textbooks. They always cost a fortune. Is anyone else is gearing up too?

This will be my first semester on my new bipolar meds (lithium, etc) and my new diagnosis Bipolar II. I am concerned about stress level and balancing health and school. I tend to majorly sacrifice health for school or work.

But I am hoping for the best and trying to remain at least a bit positive.

DW

Tomorrow is my first day back after 25 years. Going to finish my AA. They haven't even told us what books we need yet.

I FOUGHT with my job to give me flex time to take this one stupid class because they ONLY offer it during the day and not even through distance learning. And I don't even feel like I want to go tomorrow.

When I dropped out way back when I thought I was just a fvck up. Had no diagnoses then and no help.

I'm also worried about balance. I can ever keep too many balls in the air at once. Guess we'll see how it goes.

Good luck to us.

YMIHere --

I had to fight to get myself out of the car to attend night class last night. But I did it. It turns out a friend from last semester signed up for the same class. So now I have a friendly face to look forward to. It's the little things.

Good luck on your start. If you want to talk school more, let me know. I am really trying to be better to myself this semester and balance school, health, and real life.

DW

I started a new semester yesterday and I'm taking two classes. I have a lot of anxiety right now trying to figure out how to handle two classes. One class is giving me enormous anxiety because it's a lot of reading and writing papers.

I think it's great that both of you are returning to school! Deep breathing and lavender essential oil is what helps keep me calm. Oh and don't forget there are tutors to help. I visit them often and they are very helpful. There are so many more resources available now for help.

Good luck!

I am starting my second semester working on my PhD. I still haven't finished the final from last semester. I feel so behind.

All in all though, I think it will be okay. I've been through worse.

conversioblog.wordpress.com

DesigningWoman, balancing health and work is extremely important. Hope you are able to do so. Good luck!

Two kids in college doing great. Yay for them! FYI- they hardly spend on text books. They can get them online or rent them. Good luck students!

TishaBuv
Sadly as a grad student the textbooks are specialized. I have never seen one available online. Rental is impractical due to comprehensive nature of degree and exams. This is my second grad degree program. I do think Library and Info Sci books were worse though.

Tishabuv
Congrats on your college kids. Best of luck to them!
If you don't mind me asking, what are their majors? My undergrad was in History.

I am a Sophomore a t69....I used my life story to win a scholarship. Been going for 9 years (social work/counseling.)

Thanks. I just got a tour of the tutoring center yesterday if I should need it, but I don't know when I'd find the time with work. Literally like I have no life. I may have to end up using like an hour of personal time or something here and there.

I'm going to guess you work full time as well. How the heck do you do it?

One is Psychology and wants to be a Ph.D the other is Music Engineering.

YMIHere

In my first grad degree, I did school and work both full time. I had zero life. Every moment was spent on one or the other. Even lunch or 15 min work breaks I was frantically reading or writing out notes. I didn't have a job where I could use downtime for school work. I worked 2 early days in at 8am and 2 late nights out at 9pm and every other Saturday or Friday alternating. Apparently bosses felt I needed to suffer to get my education. It was really miserable. It all came down to the final semester. The program required master's thesis written and sit for comprehensive exams in the same semester. I floundered through the thesis but I broke down at comps. For the first time ever, I requested accommodation for mental illness. It was shockingly easy, once I got over being embarrassed to ask. I took comps the next semester and graduated only one semester off my plan. Best decision I ever made. In short, I don't recommend that path.

So about five years later, I am in grad school again. I quit my full time job. Everyone thought I was crazy. The head of the org even tried to talk me out of it. But I am doing much better. I am grad school full time and part time working for the Uni. I can actually sleep at night. I am going into debt but frankly it's worth it.