Keep your friends close

I started my Associates at Pioneer Pacific in 2004. For 15 months I went to school 4 nights a week. I also worked an 8-5 job on weekdays and 3 shifts per week at a restaurant. In 2005 I finished my Associates and started my Bachelors at University of Phoenix. There, I only went to school 1 night a week but I still had two jobs.

There are two specific times I remember involving my friends. 1. I had just started my first class at UP and was up doing homework around 10pm when my boyfriend came home with a fractured ankle. I made him wait until I finished the homework before I took him to the hospital. 2. In May of 2007 by best friend sent me a myspace comment which mentioned she hadn't seen me since Thanksgiving.

Looking back now, the first example is just flat out unacceptable. Though, in my defense, he was walking around on his ankle, just limping. The second example I think is probably fairly common among people with the schedule I had. However, as I hear at work often, there has to be some sort of work/life balance. I assume this includes a balance with school also.

I consider myself lucky that I still have any friends. I think this is mostly due to the fact that I have amazing friends (love you Angie :)). In case you're wondering (or don't know my life story) I don't have the same boyfriend anymore. I'm pretty sure us not being together anymore isn't directly related to the above example....

I guess the point I'm trying to make here is that when you're schedule goes crazy and is completely over booked as mine was the best thing to do is one thing you think you shouldn't do - schedule in more stuff. If the only way to ensure that you maintain your relationships is to put them on your calendar, do it. I wish I had. I'm nowhere near as busy as I was while in school now but I do live about half an hour from most of my friends. I now have Angie scheduled in for at least one night a week. I also probably should have scheduled in specific times to do my homework rather than doing it last minute at 10 at night...