Quitters Never Prosper

Why is life so hectic?

I feel like I barely have time for anything...

I guess working 80 hours a week, going to school and trying to write for the school paper doesn't help. And having a social life... it either doesn't happen, or I risk falling short of my goals and responsibilities.

The jobs are great, I need the money. It's the extra stuff that's creating the stress. - School I can handle. I've been doing that for 16 years. The social life makes things difficult, but it also temporarily relieves me of my stresses, which is a good thing. Right?. I'm thinking it's the paper. I would really like to do it, but it's so much added stress to my life that I don't really want. I have deadlines, and I have to meet with people for interviews, and I have to write, edit, and rewrite. Then I have to rewrite and re-edit. And then, sometimes I have to still do it again. At least, that's been my experience with my first story, which still hasn't even run yet.

I think writing for my school paper would most likely have some long term benefits for me in my potential future career... but does that make it worth all the stress it adds to my waking life that could potentially cause health problems, emotional problems, and a decrease in the pleasure I get out of writing. It could even ruin my love for writing, right? - It's just not the kind of writing that I want to be doing. I don't want to be a reporter. I don't want to have to investigate things that I don't know or care about so people can read probably the first few lines and then scrap it. It just seems like a lot of work for not so much benefit. Especially because no matter what, I wont be able to get more than a semesters worth of experience.

Does wanting to quit make me a slacker? Does it make me a failure? Is it a bad idea? Should I just force myself to do it even though as I'm sitting here thinking about my next story I'm also thinking about how much I really don't want to do it?

When I first signed up, I was really genuinely excited. And now, I've written only one story (which as I said before still hasn't even run) and I'm already sick of it... Is it because I haven't seen any results yet? Because I haven't received that instant gratification that I love so much? I don't know. All I know is that my next story is due Tuesday at 11 AM and I haven't even e-mailed and potential interviews yet. And on top of that, I have to work all day tomorrow, Sunday, Monday and Tuesday, so, Lord only knows when I would even be able to meet with anyone.


It's just too much.

But I'm still going to try... I don't want to be a quitter anymore.