It seems fitting to break out one of the more frequently favored cliches: Where has the time gone? This past month felt like my last three years of high school have wrapped themselves up into an ornate package, ready to be shipped off to who knows where? As each year passed and I got older, responsibilities I’ve never had have ushered themselves into my life, assuming roles I’ve prepared for and others I’ve just no idea about. I can only imagine what lies ahead, waiting to attach itself to my life like pet hair to black pants. If you live in a home such as mine with two cats and a dog, pet hair on pants is a daily occurrence, so maybe that wasn’t the best comparison to use, but most people can relate. Even though it’s only September and the first two days of school have been successfully conquered, I can’t help but feel stressed out and overwhelmed with the bombardment of college talk by teachers, peers, family, and friends. There are endless questions pertaining to academic requirements, majors, potential schools, scholarships, financial aid, tuition, room and board, where do I want to go? With all of these questions and time flying by faster than ever, how am I supposed to sum up any answers let alone the right ones?
I do not like feeling as if I’m falling behind or that I’m so over my head that  I don’t know where to start, but that’s exactly how I feel and exactly what I vented to my mom about over ice cream in bed. The very moment when my venting ended, and most of the ice cream turned to soup, was when she opened her mouth and the most liberating advice came out. “Go to sleep. You cannot do anything tonight about any of those things you mentioned. Tomorrow is a brand new, fresh day and you can tackle what’s on your mind then, but for tonight the best thing you can do is sleep.” How can I conquer anything at night?  The day is over. There is nothing more I can do except sleep and start refreshed the next morning. Everything seems worse at night– pain, stress, wrinkles, the food-baby you get after eating; my mom’s advice was completely true and saved me from having a mental breakdown. I’ll deal with senior year, college choices, and all the other overwhelming tasks day by day. And so far, so good. I mean, I finished this article, didn’t I?