Get through this week challenge

Is it just me or has this week been SO. LONG. I swear it’s been Thursday for three days already and I’m going insane. I’ve been working my butt off to try and balance having a social life and getting grades that won’t make my parents fly over here and drag my back to the US kicking and screaming but god. They really weren’t kidding when they said uni was harder than high-school, I can’t believe I miss doing math.

Pro tip: say yes to everything. Over Easter break I ended up in the middle of nowhere weeding invasive wild grass for a conservation project. I think I almost convinced my friends I was about to die in Broadmeadows because I took the wrong train (not unheard of) but instead I spent a lot of time talking about gallbladder surgery with the conservationist (who was lovely). It was definitely an interesting experience and if I hadn’t filled out a random google form without reading anything I probably wouldn’t have even heard about this tiny national park in the middle of nowhere. It was organised by the club I go to on Tuesdays and I’m honestly thinking of going next year. Maybe somewhere closer this time, but I doubt I’ll be more inclined to read things fully then either.

I also went and got my nose pierced so now I’m trotting around the campus like I’m some kind of cool guy. I’m invincible now that I’ve managed to spend my money, exercise my bodily autonomy and piss off my parents in one fell swoop. If anyone reading this is thinking of doing something a little out of their comfort zone, I absolutely think you should. There’s no telling what’ll happen, or how you’ll feel after but there’s really only one way to find out. Making friends is hard at uni. I went to get my nose pierced with someone I didn’t know last month and now we have that in common forever. Even if you don’t feel like going out and doing something away from campus, there are so many events all the time. The other day I got free bubble tea and pizza before my tutorial started which was awesome sauce. The night market was just on and I never say no to free food. A huge part of knowing and being known is the embarrassment of putting yourself out there. It sucks butts but it has to happen!!

It’s getting colder now so I’m breaking out my favourite rainbow scarf and lamenting the fact that winter even exists. Melbourne is so damn windy it messes up my hair every time. And my skirt. I was wearing a wrap skirt that straight up untied in the middle of a crosswalk- I probably flashed about 15 people.

You know what’s funny? I started writing this last week but I’m already starting a new challenge: get through week 9. Uni itself has been good but its hard balancing a social life with studying and trying to take care of yourself. Even if you don’t feel like going out, I think you should try to just be outside. With winter coming on & temperatures dropping its so tempting to just curl up and sleep the days away. But then you end up behind on your schoolwork and all your friends worry about you. So just go sit in the library. Even if that feels insurmountable and terrifying, just go sit there with a warm drink and at least pretend to get work done. It’s 100% better than creating some kind of nest in your bedroom.

And if you live out of home- call your parents. And if you see them every day, let them know you love them. Winter takes the energy out of a lot of people, and it’s the relationships we have with other people that makes life so rich and interesting. – Amity