Pulling all-nighters cramming for tests 

There’s nothing like staring blankly at a Lewis structure at 2 a.m. and questioning all your life choices. You know, when “10 minute naps” turn into a two hour-long sleep, and then you wake up freaking out because now you’ve wasted your only precious study time? Yeah, I do too. Farewell, caffeine-fueled nights. I will not miss you.

Sleeping through 9 alarms and waking up 30 minutes late 

Yes, 9. You might be wondering, how does one sleep through 9 alarms? Honestly…I’m still wondering myself. It’s not that I didn’t try. I set them 5 minutes apart, across the room, on max volume. I even put the speaker right by my side and changed my ringtone. At this point, I may just be immune to any sound.  

Spending all my lunch money on food I don’t even need

I walk into the commons telling myself, “Okay, Jessica. One drink and one snack. Nothing else.”

Two minutes later, I was walking out of the Commons with a drink, a bag of chips, a cookie, and a yogurt. One time, I ate five bags of Flamin’ Hot Limon Doritos in a single day. Do I really need all this at 9:50 a.m.? Probably not. Yet, I still do it every single time. My parents’ pockets must be thrilled that summer is here.

Forgetting to charge my headphones and enduring a silent, music-less day

Nothing hurts more than pulling out my headphones, pressing play, and hearing nothing.

Just me and my thoughts. No music between classes. Just silence. A truly dark day.

Erasers and pens disappearing from my pencil box

I started the year with about 12 pens and 2 erasers. Now? I’m down to two pens, zero erasers, and a lonely pen cap with no pen in sight. One time, I saw someone using the same exact eraser I had lost a day ago—same color, same eraser marks from the sticky part of the eraser cover… 

Cross country practice in the hot sweltering sun

After a long seven hours of school, I put on my black Lululemon shorts, a random t-shirt I found in my closet, and my running shoes that have definitely seen some better days. Then I go for a run…except it’s 100 degrees, and the sun is quite literally trying to roast me alive. I nearly cry out of sheer gratitude every time I step back into AC.

Heaving my enormous swim bag to school 

At least three times a week, I lug around a swim bag for about 10 miles. Actually, it’s just from carline to the gym, but it feels like way more than that. It’s packed with a too-big Westridge parka, a towel, my swimsuit, three sets of goggles (even though I only use one), and an empty water bottle I always forget to refill. After dropping my bag off, I am left with around 40 seconds to speed walk to class with my slides. I still come late every time. 

The last week before summer break

You’d think the week before break would be chill. Wrong! For some reason, every class decides it’s the perfect time to assign final projects, tests, essays, presentations, and the list goes on. Right now, I’m running on 30 minutes of sleep, 3 ghost energy drinks, and an absurd amount of weird midnight snacks. 

Finding a new obsession to procrastinate my work with

Last month, it was Block Blast. Before that, it was desperately trying to raise my trophies in Brawl Stars. Currently, I’m into Grow a Garden on Roblox, where I spend hours organizing my garden while ignoring the essay I have due at midnight. It’s amazing how productive I can be…at literally anything other than my homework. I’m not avoiding the assignment–I’m just mentally preparing… for six hours.

When a five-day week feels like a lifetime

After a few glorious four-day weeks, a regular five-day week feels like a cruel joke. My brain still refuses to accept that we still have yet another school day. Like, what do you mean it’s only Wednesday right now?! I’m ready for school to be over now.