Student Blog: April Showers Bring Late Hours

As the academic year is nearing its end, so is the mental stamina of students. Spring musicals have concluded, the final marking period has freshly begun, and summer seems just within grasp. The combination of gratifying conclusions and impending new beginnings can intensely pressurize the weight of the final few months of the school year. As grade portals close and summer stock cast lists are released, ambitious students are truly bearing the brunt of their goal-oriented agendas and their daunting objectives. Now that the clock is ticking louder and louder, it is essential for these high-achievers to consider the importance of positive self talk. Here are some sentiments to reflect on during this stressful period:

1. You are not defined by grades or roles.

It’s easy to place extreme emphasis on the outcome of your hard work. Whether it is working to maintain a certain grade-point-average, secure a role in a new production, or merely squeezing in everything you wanted to accomplish before summer’s start, these achievements do not speak to your character. As a human being, you have so much value beyond meeting your own tall expectations, be good to yourself. Regardless of the outcome, the world keeps turning, so find joy in the process rather than holding it hostage.

2. Doing your best is exceptional.

So many external factors play into these results, so do your best to give yourself some grace. For instance, in the case of musical theatre auditions, it is widely understood that the casting process is influenced by many variables aside from an individual’s talent. Appearance, the mood of the casting team, and a director’s vision all happen to be such variables that are, by nature, out of your control. All you can do is all you can do. Remind yourself that work ethic speaks far more to your capabilities than anything else. Be proud of intensely pursuing a goal. Regardless of what happens in the end, you are inadvertently learning resilience in this way.

3. Recognize that other things are important to you.

Although not excecuting everything that you may intended to can feel like a slap in the face, remember that they do not represent the bounds of your ultimate purpose. There is more that this world has to offer, and when one door closes, another opens. So rather than punishing yourself, seek out new opportunities for fulfillment. In doing work that serves your soul, the journey of life feels much more enjoyable and less distressing.

To summarize, having goals and objectives is a great thing! It is so amazing to feel compelled to attain them and can be very motivating. However, in practice, this can feel overwhelming and nearly apocalyptic. Too much pressure can be dangerous and should be combatted through self-compassion and an adaptive mindset. I believe that you can do anything you set your mind with various means to get there.