As some of you may know, I'm a student at the University of Pittsburgh. So if you know that, you now must know about the 70, and quite possibly growing, bomb threats that have been on campus. It has escalated to reports in the national news, something I wouldn't have Pitt to do unless it was related to athletics or massive academic achievement. Unfortunately, the bad will always outweigh the good.

And with these constant threats, my life has become a whirlwind of utter stress. As an English Lit major, I am expected to do my fair share of writing and research, usually moreso than the average student. With five Lit classes this semester, just multiply everything by that number and you get the utter chaos of just a basic academic week.

Now with my classes being constantly disrupted, relocated, and some even moved online, my workload has nearly doubled the normal amount for the semester. Since we cannot be in class to participate and show that we have done the work, my fellow classmates and I have been forced to lengthen our papers and do multiple Blackboard and Class Blog posts in order to get anything done.

Right now I have abandoned any segment of my social life and plunged head first into my work. When the library is not evacuated, I spend countless hours with multiple windows up. Just this Tuesday I was working on three papers at once, writing a blog, and completing a discussion board post. And once my afternoon classes were done, I headed straight home to read criticism after criticism, and finish reading The Bluest Eye and The Remains of the Day. My workload has gone into over time and frankly, I'm exhausted.

The only thing I can say about these threats is that it has somehow brought the Pitt community closer together. I'm spending time sitting on benches, talking with unknown students about what is going on, asking about what classes were disrupted or if they had to evacuate their dorm at 4am. Despite the annoyance of the situation, people are still keeping their head up and pushing on. I even had the delight to have my suggestion of holding my Children's Lit class in the Carnegie Library put into use. And upon the moment our class walked into the Children's Section, a wonderful librarian asked us if we needed anything for our class. She simply reached out to help us in any way.

It is just lovely to know that despite the bad, a lot of good can happen through it.

Hail to Pitt.

I only have a couple more sessions of therapy left and I can say that this past month I have discovered a few new things about myself. Yet the most important is learning how to simply deal. To simply cope.

A couple nights ago I became confused about my emotions. I was upset yet I could not figure out why. But by sitting down and really thinking, I was able to deduce that I was simply stressed out. The pressures of school are mounting again nearing the end of the semester, not to mention the frustrations of figuring out classes for fall and making sure I get exactly what I need in order to graduate. Then at the end of April, during finals week nonetheless, I must move out and move into another rental. Soon after I will be doing a two month back and forth travel between two jobs in order to afford another semester of schooling and get a head start on my savings.

Yet I was able to break them down and deal with them one by one over the next two days. Classes in order, employment in order, the housing hunt going well, my head feels so much more freer to engage in things I enjoy.

At the end of April I am aware my tensions will be running will be extremely high, but I am not afraid of it. I understand I can cope with it. I have done it before successfully and I am able to do it again.




Many may think that I am not taking a larger investment in my psychotherapy. Others may not see the importance and necessity of my desire to have something short term and not long term. It's not simply what I look for in order to fit my schedule, but it's a trait and program I look for in my therapist as well.

I do not treat therapy as some might see other treatment programs. Depression can be seen as strange form of addiction. When individuals attempt to let go of one addiction, they turn to programs in order to cope. While they are beneficial, help one cope, and open up options, they may also turn into another addiction to fulfill the one lost. I do not wish to fall into that trap, and my therapist sees that as important as well. Therapy is not a way of life, it is simply a stepping stone. It is there to help a person get back up on their feet and give them the right direction and right tools. Therapy is not something to cling to, not to be used as a crutch.

It's about finding a greater strength within yourself. An ability to go forward on your own.