Determined to sweat
I’m sitting here drinking my delicious coffee as I stare around the room. Students are sitting mostly in groups chatting, typing, eating and studying. I begin to think - are they just as worried and frustrated as I am right now? Are they sweating like me over internships, picking classes for next semester and how they’re going to have time to study for their exams next week? Not only that, are they sweating over two new jobs, the three group projects they have to do and the 10 hours they’ve slept in the past three days? I’m going to take a wild guess and say that I’m the only one in the room sweating. The coffee isn’t really helping either.
So what is helping me? How does one person like me handle all of this? I can tell you in one word – determination. I’m determined to get an internship. I’m determined to work hard at my two new jobs. I’m determined to ace all of my exams. I’m determined to function with little sleep. And I’m determined to pick the right classes. Of course I’m still going to worry, but if I didn’t worry then I wouldn’t care if I failed. And trust me, I care – I care a lot.
Determination is definitely the right word with regard to staying motivated and focused. With the schedule you've mapped out, the other thing you need to keep in mind is balance. My suggestion is that you make certain your class schedule is a couple of hard classes counterpointed with a couple of easy ones. Then, when you feel as though one is taking a toll on you and your energies, you can take a break by moving to the easy class, finish the exercises quickly and easily, and feel an enormous amount of accomplishment.
That sort of balance will also help as you schedule your work.
I'm just curious about the two jobs you have and wondering if they could be considered internships in some way or entry-level work that is leading you to your ultimate goal. It could be they are steps and you have yet to see them because you're so immersed in the activities.