Too much and can't give anything up...

[kygirl]

I am currently working and in school. I have been doing this both in undergrad and now in law school. Up till now I was working about 32-34 hours a week and going to school parttime. Now I am working an average of 42-44 hours a week and going to school parttime. The classes I have also have a lot of more tasks throughout the semester this time.

I have been soooo on edge the last two months. I can't quit my job (I got a promotion and a big pay raise) and I can't quit school. I also have to find time to exercise to help with the stress level and to see my friends, but I feel like it's just not getting better.

At times, I just want to scream, throw in the towel and quit trying to have any type of a normal life while I am in school. BUT I have such amazing friends and family that I just can't do that either... I don't see them *that* much as is.

Any thoughts, suggestions, or just general "I feel your pain"?

[Little]

Why can't you quit school? (Prepares for the boos)
Or just lower your classload? The semester is almost over. Maybe you could choose to take one fewer class next semester.
I say this because I spent three years busting bottom to get my BA because I felt like I was "supposed to." And I could have stayed in my high school fast food job and been where I am now, career-wise. I think you understand how I'm feeling, I'm sure Kentucky has the same kind of issues with the economy as Tennessee. Having a good job with reasonably high pay is worth cutting down on class hours, in my opinion. For the time being at least.

[Nats]

Why can't you quit school? (Prepares for the boos)
Or just lower your classload? The semester is almost over. Maybe you could choose to take one fewer class next semester.
I say this because I spent three years busting bottom to get my BA because I felt like I was "supposed to." And I could have stayed in my high school fast food job and been where I am now, career-wise. I think you understand how I'm feeling, I'm sure Kentucky has the same kind of issues with the economy as Tennessee. Having a good job with reasonably high pay is worth cutting down on class hours, in my opinion. For the time being at least.

Im not from either place but I totally agree...We kind of become obsessed with completing everything at once but class load can always be reduced, to make time for other things, like say a job...Especially in this crazy economy...

I totally feel your pain...My parents were on my butt about college so I was there full time right outta high school - they also wanted me to be thin when marriage season came around so I was going to the gym as often as I could - both of them were also working at night so I had to be home on time every evening to take care of my little sisters and wait up for my parents to get home...and I also had a part time job to pay for college...it was a mess and I wish I could have put my foot down and done things differently...

[kygirl]

Why can't you quit school? (Prepares for the boos)
Or just lower your classload? The semester is almost over. Maybe you could choose to take one fewer class next semester.
I say this because I spent three years busting bottom to get my BA because I felt like I was "supposed to." And I could have stayed in my high school fast food job and been where I am now, career-wise. I think you understand how I'm feeling, I'm sure Kentucky has the same kind of issues with the economy as Tennessee. Having a good job with reasonably high pay is worth cutting down on class hours, in my opinion. For the time being at least.

I can't lower my course load anymore because there is a min hour requirement. And you never really know what a class is going to be like till a week or two in and then I can't get all my money back for the classes and at $650 a credit hour, I can't lose it either.

I also don't *want* to quit school. I am looking forward to changing my career but while I am in school, I still have to work fulltime to support myself because I cant' afford to take out more loans than necessary and I don't have a spouse or family to help me take care of myself until then.

[kygirl]

I totally feel your pain...My parents were on my butt about college so I was there full time right outta high school - they also wanted me to be thin when marriage season came around so I was going to the gym as often as I could - both of them were also working at night so I had to be home on time every evening to take care of my little sisters and wait up for my parents to get home...and I also had a part time job to pay for college...it was a mess and I wish I could have put my foot down and done things differently...

And just for background's sake. I am 28 years old and made a conscious decision to go back to school. I wasn't forced by anyone. I took 4 years off to think about it. I have 3 more semesters after this one. The economy is killing me because I am expected to work more hours to keep my job. I have looked for other jobs but I get paid REALLY well here and have benefits. I can't afford to pay for a place to live, my car, etc making half of what I make now or trying to wait tables or something without benefits and a steady income.

I also only have a certain amount of years to complete my degree so I can't just take 2-3 years off and hope something changes, not to mention, my loans go out of deferment if I take time off.

[Little]

Law school is a funny sort of grad school. For other subjects, if you pay tuition "you're not doing it right." Are there any kind of TAships for law school?
I made it through undergrad on loans, scholarships, and a part-time job. All by myself. I made $7,000 in 2008 and went to two foreign countries to finish my degree on that income. Obviously not everybody wants to live on rice and ketchup and instant dry milk in the ghettofabulous on-campus apartments, but it can be done. There may be a lot you're wasting money on because you think you can't go without it. Cable/satellite, new car with high insurance, internet (you can use the internet on campus,) going out to eat (cooking at home is probably 1/4th of the cost!) etc. You have to look at what you've got, since obviously I don't know what corners you've cut or not. If you have extra money you can calm down.

[kygirl]

Law school is a funny sort of grad school. For other subjects, if you pay tuition "you're not doing it right." Are there any kind of TAships for law school?
I made it through undergrad on loans, scholarships, and a part-time job. All by myself. I made $7,000 in 2008 and went to two foreign countries to finish my degree on that income. Obviously not everybody wants to live on rice and ketchup and instant dry milk in the ghettofabulous on-campus apartments, but it can be done. There may be a lot you're wasting money on because you think you can't go without it. Cable/satellite, new car with high insurance, internet (you can use the internet on campus,) going out to eat (cooking at home is probably 1/4th of the cost!) etc. You have to look at what you've got, since obviously I don't know what corners you've cut or not. If you have extra money you can calm down.

Undergrad I didn't make much either, but right now, I already have monetary commitments that I can't get rid of at this point. A lease, a car payment, insurance, etc. I also have been trying to help out with my family some, etc. I cook at home a lot already since I don't have time to go out to eat. It's not an issue right now of what can be done. I can cut back on expenses a bit, but not to half my income and I can't change anything on most of the major expenses until they are paid off (my car, which is 3 years old) or until my lease is up (not till next August). I also have a roommate and to live on campus is the same cost as what I pay now rent-wise and I can't move home during the holidays/summers like I'd have to because I don't live in the city I'm from and work in.

[WildChild]

Something has to give. You have goals and are on your way to fullfilling them. Assuming work and school aren't on the table, are there ways you can combine some of the others areas in your life? Little's suggestion of saving by eating at home, could that be combined with socialising? Talk to your friends and set up a rotation of taking turns preparing dinner and eating together at each other's homes? Or getting your workout or exersize with freinds instead of exersizing and then seeing freinds?

You are a wonderful woman, not WonderWoman! You can't do it all and do it well, virtually no one can. Enlist that great family and those good freinds to help you make it work?

[OhThereYouAre]

I remember grad school. The *most* stressful time of my life.

I was working full time, going to school full time, building a house and customizing myself, moving and dealing with a rather less than appreciative ex.

I never want to do that again. I remember some days I'd just wake up pis$ed knowing all I had to do that day and running on almost no sleep.

When push came to shove, I skimped on schoolwork and attendance. I let my exam grades and my performance when I was in class speak for itself...which won the leniency of many a professor. You may or may not have that opportunity.

If you've gotten this far, the worst is over, and you can make it through.

Good luck.

[kygirl]

I never want to do that again. I remember some days I'd just wake up pis$ed knowing all I had to do that day and running on almost no sleep.

That is EXACTLY how I feel. It's been stressful the entire time but I think after we had a bunch of layoffs and I was given this new position, it's increased my stress level exponentially. Suddenly, it was like, giving 100% at work wasn't enough. They expect 150%. I am hoping when the economy recovers a bit more that maybe 110% will be enough and I can breathe a bit.

I'm sure a lot of the frustration does come from lack of sleep, and the inability to just relax at times. I know I have it in me to do it. I just am deeply looking forward to a break at some point!