How to Survive the Hardest Semester Ever

An Instructional Guide by Emma Atwood

So...

You are facing your hardest semester ever.

You begin doing everything you know you should be doing.
You were accepted to be an RA, and feel like this is exactly where you should be right now.

You are still the DSO for the Women's Soccer Team and love it.

You were offered to be the DSO of the Men's Soccer Team and have accepted that position as well.

You know that there is a lot ahead of you this semester so you take only 12 credits. 

Everything feels perfect.

July 30th you realize you have to be at the airport TONIGHT, not tomorrow night.

You hurriedly finish packing and hug your family goodbye as you leave for the airport.

Maybe this is the moment that threw off your entire semester?
Eh... 

Not sure about that yet.

However, with minimal delays you arrive back at school and all is well.

You fall asleep at 6 am that first day back, and wake up at 11 am.

Not the best start but it will have to do since you couldn't fall asleep all night.

The first weeks are filled with RA training and new adventures.

Soccer begins and looks promising.

Students start arriving and, slightly overwhelmed you work to get them all moved in. 

Good start.

Then classes begin.

And you feel totally and completely unprepared...

From day 1 you feel behind. 

Maybe this is when it all went wrong?

Your netflix account hasn't seen any action since the beginning of August.

You are busy all day every day and it feels fantastic. 

You asked to be released from your job as DSO of the men's soccer team because you aren't giving enough time to the other things in your life.

You think that will help. 

However, schoolwork is now put last. 

You scramble just to keep current on your assignments.

Soccer starts becoming emotionally exhausting.

Time goes on.

Soccer ends and you think now you will have all this extra time.

Nope.

That time is filled with other, equally as important things.

You are floundering. 

You become further and further behind and it becomes a struggle to even attend classes.

You get sick. 

Is this the moment when you should have given up on your semester?

Not yet.

Earlier on in the semester you realized that God likes you out of your comfort zone.

You learn your lesson in that regard.

You accept that being out of your comfort zone is good.

But did you realize that not succeeding is also WAY outside your comfort zone?

Because it is...

You learn lots of life lessons.

(For example, how big 8 24 inch pizzas are...)

Your testimony grows substantially. 

You have a desire to receive your endowments and attend the temple.

Then you realize you are supposed to leave on a mission. 

Wait what?

Planning begins.
You find replacements for your jobs. 

You tell your friends and family. 

You talk to your bishop and start your papers.

Finally...

You have waited so long to go on a mission and the time is NOW!

But now doesn't exactly work into your plans.

Oh well.

You trust God's timing.

The semester draws to a close.

You aren't ready to leave your friends, your life, all the good things that are finally all perfect and working and are all you've ever wanted.

You aren't ready at all.

You cry more than you are willing to ever admit. 

You get a blessing of comfort and then, then you realize lesson 2 of this semester.

You can't do it alone.

Yes I can!

No. You. Can't.

You recognize that while you are amazing and have been given many gifts and talents,

You can't do everything all by yourself.

The load on your back isn't supposed to be carried alone.

Too late in the semester you give it up.

You ask for help.

You admit you are weak.

And maybe you cry some more.

Because as much as you love what you do.

As much as you are doing what you know you are supposed to be doing.

All those things weren't meant to be done alone. 

You recognize all the times you have hit the bottom, 

Asked for help and been lifted up,

Only to turn around and fall again.

You need help.

The semester is almost over.

It is Finals Week.

And you, you are exhausted.

Your heart is broken.

And your spirit is contrite.

And ye shall offer for a sacrifice unto me a broken heart and a contrite spirit. And whoso cometh unto me with a broken heart and a contrite spirit, him will I baptize with fire and with the Holy Ghost...

3 Nephi 9:20

You finally understand that scripture and what that feels like and what it means. 

And you realize you are not alone. 

That you've never been alone.

It could be so much worse.

You are grateful and promise to do better.

And you trust.

(Tender Mercy= Sam coming to visit)

Some lessons come easier than others.

Some involve failing a class and barely surviving a semester.

Some involve losing loved ones, being injured, mental or physical disabilities and a host of other pains.

But there is a lesson. 

And there is peace to be found. 

Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. 

Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.

John 14:27

Life isn't supposed to be perfect.

Even when you are doing your best that isn't always enough.

That is what the atonement is for.

Christ meets us at the point that we can't continue on.

Wherever our best is, He will go and take it the rest of the way.

I've learned that this semester.

And God loves us.
He loves His children.

Even when we feel like we are failing and falling short.

He loves.
And we need to appreciate the good moments.

The friends.

The laughter.

Enjoy the journey.

And that is the third and hopefully final lesson of this semester.