The light at the end of the tunnel looks kinda like a train...

Stress is everywhere. It can't be avoided. It piles up outside your front door, applying constant pressure, waiting for a slight crack to appear, do it can force its way into your life. Stress comes with about 470348 different things. And it's kind of hard to not always feel stressed.

Allow me to elaborate.

I'm a senior in high school. That in itself is kind of stressful. I'm making decisions about college, education, friends, etc. things that really make an impact on me and my life.

I am taking 9 classes. Or, I was until yesterday. Classes started on Wednesday. So I'd has 3 days of classes, and I was already struggling somewhat. I'd made this schedule for myself, which was sort of like a written death sentence, that I'd been following religiously. So, my parents pulled me aside yesterday and expressed their concern. With all of my classes, I have no time to work. If I don't work, I don't go to college, which makes the 9 classes sort of pointless. My family is full of problem solvers. When I say that, I mean my parents. We discussed finances and figured out a good way to get some income. We decided to drop two classes and then take them next summer. I'll still graduate, it'll just be a little bit later down the path. Which is okay with me, as long as it spares some tears.

College. Allow me to shove my face in a pillow and scream for a few minutes. To say I'm stressed about this decision would be an understatement. I keep changing the schools I'm applying to. I keep adding or taking away different schools. In July, Helen and I made a list of 7 schools we were both going to apply to.
Western Washington University
University of Oregon
California State- Chico
California State- Sacramento
Central Washington University
Washington State University
Humboldt university

These are all great schools. And they all had a combination of the majors we both wanted.

Then I applied for the ACT. And I was sending the scores to the schools, I decided I needed to narrow it down. I did some thinking, analyzing, and decided on the following list.
University of Oregon
BYU
Cornish college for the arts
Weber state
WWU.

I was content with it. I filled out applications for most of those. Everything was going okay. Helen and I were still applying for 3 of the same schools.

Then I spoke with my mom. And we decided 3 colleges was enough. It gave me enough options.
Weber
BYU
WWU.

Allow me to scream into my pillow again.

I suck at making decisions. I'm persuaded easily. I can never make up my mind. I can have a thousand people's opinions in my head and the only thing I can do about them is cry. Cry and wish they'd go away. I know I'm not the only senior to feel like this, but it doesn't make it any less hard for me. Maybe I'm just a big complainer and I should shut up now.

Life is stressful. The sooner you realize it, the happier/unhappier you'll be. You choose.