BACK TO SCHOOL

While school technically started yesterday I only just had my first classes of my fourth year today.

BALANCE

Throughout my university life, I've come to the realization that I'm a big believer in a balanced lifestyle. That "work hard, play hard" phrase really started to resonate with me when it came to my everyday routine.

I think having a balanced lifestyle is a definite key to a more peaceful and rewarding life.

UNIVERSITY

For me personally, university... especially engineering has been a challenge and sometimes a struggle. High school came easy, so I honestly never really expected to have any difficulties in university.

Last term during my third year I was the most stressed about school than I have ever been in my life. High school had come relatively easy to me and I never expected university to be as challenging as it was... naive I know.

Whether it was the commute, money, time, work load I constantly I felt like I was drowning, and my mental health was seriously at risk. So for once in my life I decided I should give myself a break, look at my situation long term and slow myself down.

By rushing myself and constantly pushing myself to just make it by, without truly retaining anything was my downfall. I decided to rearrange my school schedule and take an extra term in order to slow down and take my time to really be able to focus and most importantly learn. Then I could potentially have more time for my studies as well as a balanced life style and even eventually enjoy what I'm learning more because I understand the information.

This is where I am now, starting fresh in the second term of third year, seeing how this "slow down" goes.

I've thought about it time and time again, is this program right for me? am I really doing something I will love in the future? and overall what I am studying, the values and theories behind everything I am learning - I can truly say that whatever field I go into that involves the environment, conservation, and sustainability I will be happy. I just need to get through school in order to get to the place I need to be.