Over the past couple of weeks, it has been an unusually upsetting/disappointing time to see back-to-school deals/promos and to pass by G&T and/or Staples (formerly Business Depot... I remember being so upset that they changed the name, who knows why... That transition was a difficult one for me... Metro on the other hand did not phase me... but it's probably because I had some weird attachment to Business Depot...anyway?? ). Why? I did not get to partake in one of my most FAVOUUURRIITEEE activities of the year: Back to school shopping. End of august always gets me nostalgic as I think about fresh, crisp, new, lined Hilroy paper. Max 8 per household, 44 cents per package. To maximize on the deal, my sister and I would have to stand in different lines at cash out. 44 cents, a serious steal (or at least it was, when it was 44 cents... stupid inflation). Papermate/BIC pens, 2HB pencils, pencil sharpener, pencil crayons, duo-tangs, scissors and glue sticks. If I was lucky I'd get a new pencil case (wuuudduppp!). Memories of happily & eagerly pushing the shopping cart down the designated aisles, while I asked my dad if I could get whatever item I had in my hand, truly believing I REALLYYYY & actually needed it in order to excel at school and be an optimal student. In middle school, the hype was all about FIVE STAR ZIP UP BINDERS that you ended up destroying by covering it in white-out drawings & your friend's signatures - Jenni wuz here (stupid kids). As I got older, it went onto lead pencils, gel pens, high-lighters galore, roll on-dry white-out (no more waiting for it to dry, no more clumps… even though one of my fave things to do was to paint my nails with white out), post its, INK!, printer paper and binders. The high-school hype was all about the translucent plastic binders with the different colours on the spine (purple, pink, orange, green). I used to always ask my papabear to buy those binders for me but his rebuttal was always "why would we buy those for 3 bucks each when we could get the cardboard ones for 99 cents?" For real. Good thinking pops, cuz they ended up breaking on my friends all the time. suckers. Back to school always brings back good memories, good times..... this time of year is usually always so exciting - riping open the packages and organizing your brand new supplies- O, the complete awe!
Maybe I'm more upset because I am no longer a student and have no need to go "back to school shopping." This mere thought freaks me out. I've been going to school 19 years now (did I do that math right?) and I don't know how to be anything else. I am a student, or when you get into university, a number and walking dollar signs $$ (haha). Does this mean I'm supposed to be an adult now? Not to mention, in a couple of months I'm expected to be a HEALTHCARE PROFESSIONAL? Oh dear goodness... Responsibilities, Accountability.... Real life. Scary….. Right?!?!
But I have been able to supress the fears of adulthood as I have been studying for my Nursing Lisencing/Certification Exam. Just because you have a Bachelor of Science in Nursing, doesn't mean you are a nurse… yet. So over the last couple of weeks I have resumed the life of a student, studying for dear life. Due to my crunch time, I started a strict schedule with very little room for leighway.
My days kinda look like this:
0745: Wake up
0900-1600: Work
1700-1900: Exercise/Work out & shower
1900: Dinner
1930: Study until brain shuts down
(0100-0300) to 0745: Sleep
Repeat.
Having structure back in my day is so refreshing. Without school, my life feels unorganized, almost chaotic. Having too much time on your hands is a little scary. Too much room for flexibility, no routine….. So as soon as I started studying again, I was able to have structure/routine in my life again…. Mind you, I have no time for a social life, but I feel organized again… and for those who know me, know how much I LOOOVEEEEEE organization. YAY FOR NERDINESS!
The countdown begins, I have about 3 weeks until my exam that will determine whether or not I am fit to be a Registered Nurse… no shitting around folks. Socialization & Procrastination is not permitted (although inefficiency, unproductivity and of course well deserved "study breaks" are not accounted for in this no procrastination rule... We can't control everythingggg now, C'mon).
To be a nurse, or not a nurse... To be continued.
