As the upcoming academic semester approaches (now two days away), I can’t help but notice how much worse my body feels. Nervousness affects me in atypical ways — mostly subconscious and physiological. But it’s this same undercurrent of stress that can sometimes lead to outsized spending. I need to be careful during these periods.
Yesterday, I saw sweaty, dew-soaked windows of the frozen food aisle and thought, “This is a perfect reflection of my toiling stomach.” I was a young whippersnapper when I first realized I had lactose intolerance. Then there were strange “allergies,” the removal of certain food groups, and tests to see what was wrong with me.
The best answer that doctors ever gave me was that I have Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS). This cantankerous medical condition wreaks havoc on my insides. I can feel food traveling through my system and doing battle with my intestines — harmony be damned. At the beginning and end of every semester, I have horrific flare-ups.
Like Drake’s recent single, life goes from 0 to 100 real quick when the semester starts. The world seems to enter hyperdrive, and I begin to notice significant changes:
- I spend less time in the mirror (good).
- I don’t floss as often (bad).
- My hair gets crazier (take it or leave it).
- I drink more coffee (probably exacerbating the hyper feeling).
- I pack lunches (good).
- I’m surrounded by people all the time (as an ambivert, a pleasure and challenge).
- Procrastination increases, as academic projects feel less important when compared to working with clients (ambivalent).
- I’m distracted by due dates (bad).
This semester will be the busiest schedule of my life, and I must trek all over the city to make it happen. I’ll be on the westside to eastside to southside of the city almost every day — and all by bike. The responsibilities and hours won’t cease for the next 3.5 months.
At the beginning of every year I panic, apply to/fantasize about other jobs, and think about whether I can handle it. My insides erupt and argue with me; screaming, “not again.” Despite these physical, emotional, and psychological challenges to come, life has never been more full.
I’m lucky to have incredible friends around me. They give me a positive energy and purpose. Likewise, I have this website, which is a wonderful distraction. I love being able to write to you all, save money together, and share our successes and failures. I paid off all my debt this year, and completely revamped my financial life. The stress of debt is no longer!
Graduate school is a challenge — every day — and I wouldn’t change it for the world.
Good luck to all of you who are headed back to school!
Oh my, you’re describing me in grad school–IBS and all! I’ve got to say, I’m a far less stressed person now that I’m done with school (forever I daresay). I’m sending you good vibes for a peaceful start to school. Also, I’d never heard of “ambivert” before. I just researched it and, I think I’m one! Whole new outlook on my personality… 🙂
I think the only way I notice the beginning of the school year these days is the sudden uptick of college-aged people present on campus, as opposed to the K-12ers we have running around during the summer… I guess that was starting in my fourth year, when I had finished taking and TAing all my classes. Will you always have a change in activity and therefore all this stress at the beginning and end of the semester?
My graduate program didn’t have a summer break. It was three semesters: Fall, Winter/Spring, Summer straight through for two years (with a short break of a few weeks in between each). I guess the bright side of this was that I was spared the jarring back-to-school transition each summer. Best wishes on starting school again!
Sorry to hear about the IBS. My sister has ulcerative colitis so I know a bit about the complications. Good luck with your school year!
I’ve had tummy troubles (IBS, gastritis, etc.) and TMJ for many years now. Every time I’ve had these problems, doctors have always said that caffeine was the culprit. So I’d stop doing soda, coffee, chocolate, etc. It would take about a year and a half, I’d be totally healed, I’d go back to caffeine, and be fine for a few years. Then it would start all over again. I’m off caffeine now and I pray I will never fall off the wagon again. Just a heads up. I know it’s difficult to stop, but your body and mind will thank you (once the withdrawal is over, which can take up to 3 weeks. Tylenol helps.).
3rd year? How many more?
Got another two years in Iowa and then a year at an internship site of my (relative) choosing! 🙂
Hard to believe I’ve already been out of grad school for 5 years, but I remember thinking that all my problems will be solved once I graduate and leave school behind. Quickly did I find that wasn’t the case! Every chapter in life brings new challenges, and I wish you the best of luck in your new chapter.