I have never been one to take life at a slow pace. In high school, I danced on the drill team, took AP courses, and even worked part-time for my brother. I was also on a local studio’s dance team. I don’t think I am a Type A person, but I certainly have led a very fast-paced life. To afford college, I needed to get a part-time job. I started out by taking 18 credit hours during my first two semesters. I was getting by on 5 to 6 hours of sleep per night, I wasn’t exercising, I was gaining weight, and I felt extremely stressed all the time. There were many times that I felt my heart racing even when quietly studying at the library. I checked my pulse once while lying in bed before going to sleep and my resting heart rate was 96 beats per minute. Near the end of my freshman year, I almost had a nervous breakdown. At the health center, I was referred to the counseling center. It was there that I learned that I needed to slow down. The counselor helped me identify the main stressors in my life and we worked out a plan to help me slow down.
I realized that I only had one life to live and it was up to me to live life the best possible way that I could. I was also encouraged to start being more active and eating right. I took the summer off from school, except for one class: Lifetime Fitness and Wellness. I started to exercise and spent time learning how to manage stress effectively. For my sophomore year, I prioritized my activities—exercise, good nutrition, and 7 to 8 hours of sleep each night were at the top of my list. I eliminated time killers, planned short time-outs each day, and because of my part-time job, I signed up for only 14 credits each semester. I feel much better, happier, and healthier now. My heart rate is down to 64, and my heart has not raced since summer, at the end of my freshman year.