I remember discussing in class how Victor Frankenstein got completely involved in his work, and eventually he was obsessed with creating the monster. He ignored his family, and he let his health deteriorate. While many people do not reach this extreme, we all have experienced when something comes into our lives and distracts us from everything else. I experienced this for the first two years of high school. I was completely obsessed with earning good grades. I wanted so badly to get accepted at Chapel Hill one day. I would put off important things like family, exercising, eating, and even sleeping just to study and do homework. Because I was so busy with homework, clubs, and sports, I did not have the time to do other important things like helping out with my family. I did not have time for chores, and I was not a good family member because I was always anxious and on the verge of breakdowns. My family got really sick of it after a while. I was a really good student. However, I was not as determined as Dr. Frankenstein, and I lost the passion. I was so sick of always being tired and cranky. I was just burnt out; I was exhausted with school. I think this contributes to my senior-itus this year. I try to make good grades, but I do not push myself as hard as I used to. I think maybe in a way I resent school because of how it made me exhausted. Achieving ones academic goals are very important, but there has to be a healthy balance between work and being a good family member, and having friends. Fortunately, I got rid of my compulsiveness. Otherwise, I might have ended up like Dr. Frankenstein. I would be the monster created from my compulsiveness.
Bibliography:
Shelley, Mary. Frankenstein (1831) Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1998
I completely agree with your statement. I just recently made a post about my obsession with soccer. It completely takes over your life, and it is something very hard to give up. My family has actually reached a point where they have stopped trying to keep me away from this, and have learned to just deal with it. Especially with my recent decision to play soccer at Montreat.
ReplyDeleteWe all reach a point where we burn out from this obsession. Which is probably our saving grace. I know that if it weren't for my injuries in soccer that eventually force me to slow down, I really could potentially kill myself over it. You made the right decision to try to balance more, and recognize that something needed to change. You now know that it is not insanity, but a pure passion that can be overcome.
--Ashley Plover
I agree with your post, freshman and sophomore years I was obsessed with my grades as well. It is so hard to break away from that path of wanting to keep up with everyone else or even surpassing them. After I got a job and my license though, my priorities shifted and I am trying to get back to how I was. Honestly, I wish I would have stayed focused on school instead of all of this extracurricular stuff.:)
ReplyDeleteI also agree with you three I remember freshmen year we were all obsessed with getting everything turned in on time and we would not settle for Bs. I also remember we would all go into crazy mode when Mr. Adams gave assignments we would put everything off to get a good grade on that, and now most just worry about getting it done.
ReplyDeleteI totally agree with all of you. I still am obsessed with keeping up my grades, but I'm so distracted now from work that I feel like I don't have time to focus on school, family and friends. I feel so down and I wished I never worked and just kept up with school and everything else. But without my job I would not have the things that I need or want. I feel more responsible with my job even though it puts me behind on some things like school and family. I have to manage my time and get things done.
ReplyDeleteI understand exactly what you mean. I remember my first two years at CHS, I worked so hard to stay on top of my class, even some teachers called me an overachiever. But, as the years pass I got lazy and burnt out from the stress. I mean coming home from tennis matches at 8pm or 9pm is exhausting, and then thinking about doing homework until 3am. Wow. I was ready to crash, but I can only crash for 4 hours. So sad. I am so glad senior year is over! Yay! Congrats to everyone that made it this far.
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