I feel like I'm on track for burnout, am I?

Parents Social Lounge
1

<p>Hi! I usually post in the NYU forum, but I need some outside perspective. </p>

<p>I'm about to enter my senior year, it's the summer before I start applying to grad school. I am a communications major and I'm pulling a 3.4 right now. </p>

<p>I am INCREDIBLY fortunate to have my undergraduate education funded by NYU because one of my parents is a faculty member. My parents have paid for the taxes on the tuition, my housing and my pocket money. They have insisted that SCHOOL should be my priority over working part-time. I worked really hard to get into NYU, I was actually denied in HS. During my year and a half at community college, I worked and paid my own way through CC. </p>

<p>Now, I do not know what to do for this summer. </p>

<p>During the year, I did research in a lab with a professor, outside of class, twice a week. I also interned at a communications company twice a week, 9-5. I am involved on campus. </p>

<p>I am starting to feel the strain of all of the homework, working, interning and GRE prep. I'm having a lot of anxiety and not sleeping and experiencing panic attacks. I'm seeing someone in the counseling center about my anxiety. </p>

<p>I feel like I SHOULD get a job this summer. I have put in some applications for internships instead, and I was accepted at another big communications firm. But it doesn't pay. It's for academic credit, but since I do not pay for academic credits at NYU, I'm an unpaid intern, essentially. </p>

<p>What did your grad school bound son or daughter do over the summer? Last summer, I studied abroad in Paris in a graduate level course. The summer before, I took summer classes on campus. </p>

<p>My gut is telling me I should take a break, but I almost feel like I should take a job to make my own pocket money. </p>

<p>Should I take it easy this summer? Or do I owe it to my parents to get a job instead of another unpaid internship?</p>

2

<p>I can understand why you feel you need a break. Any chance you can get a “fun” job for the summer and make some money? How about working in a restaurant? It is defintely work, but you don’t have the lingering pressure. You show up, you do a great job, you meet lots of people, hopefully you make good tips, then you go home. I bet you could find something that would make you feel productive without the stress. Good luck!</p>

3

<p>It sounds like you want to approach this like a team with your parents. It also sounds like you are grateful for the opportunities your parents have given you. Why not just tell your parents exactly what you have shared here - the gratitude, the hard work, the stress, the anxiety and sleep issues and simple say that you would like a summer break to recoup and ask if they can get behind that decision with you?</p>

<p>If they aren’t able to get on board, work for a compromise, such as part-time work somewhere that is less mentally taxing.</p>

4

<p>When I was younger at working a ton of hours, one thing that I enjoyed doing was ironing shirts. The reason for that is that it didn’t take any mental effort to do and my job was all about mental effort.</p>

<p>You might look for a job that’s more relaxing and give your mind a break.</p>

<p>Our son has been working pretty hard for many years and I would have been fine with him taking the summer off. He applied for two and was accepted to one but I would have been fine with him just relaxing.</p>

<p>You might look for a job that isn’t stressful for the summer if you feel that you need to do something.</p>

5

<p>Take a break and learn how to live for what your gut tells you is right and not for what you think you “should” do. And, enjoy the summer, use it to recharge, and not sap your energy more by feeling guilty.</p>

6

<p>If you have time to be on CC, you are nowhere near “burnout.” If the internship is a good one and you can pay the rent, take the internship. If you need the money (and can find a job) do that. Don’t make life more complicated than it really is – you will burn yourself out. If you are having trouble sleeping, go get some exercise.</p>

7

<p>Sometimes it is really helpful to have work that is not mental work. Seriously. Even if you are volunteering to walk dogs at the animal shelter – don’t spend three months in the arms of the “bag” monster. </p>

<p>If your parents are on faculty, they, of all people should understand “sabbatical” – there’s nothing wrong with taking it easy or earning some money doing a physical job or volunteering at something that puts a smile on your face – there are some half measures there BETWEEN “work like a slave all summer” and “do absolutely nothing”.</p>

8

<p>No. What it sounds like you just need this summer break. Like now. And take it. I mean it. TAKE IT.</p>

<p>When I was finishing up my first year of graduate school, I was on the verge of exhaustion. But I had money for research that I had to do that was in a different part of the country and I also needed to travel abroad for some study. One of the best summers EVER. I got to live a little between projects that didn’t require a lot of mental thinking. By September, I was ready to go back to school and write the thesis.</p>

<p>Burn out is much more than just exhaustion. It involves just not caring about your work anymore and not seeing the importance of what you’re doing. It’s worse than being mentally tired. If you still like your major and opportunities that come with it, you’re not burned out. You’re just tired. Believe me on this- I’ve questioned my school counselors about this and have experienced all this up-and-down over the last few years. I’ve never actually reached to the burn-out stage at any point. Breaks always came in on time.</p>

<p>I agree with other posters- it sounds like your parents are very good to you and should be able to respond well to your current desires and wishes. Go talk to them.</p>

<p>Senior year is very overwhelming. No matter what you do (unless you’re absolutely lazy, don’t do a thesis, and don’t bother looking for jobs until after graduation), you will have lots on your plate. Ask yourself just how important is it to start graduate school in fall 2011? If the idea of doing research and prepping for the applications makes you a little dizzy, don’t think about it. In order to succeed in graduate school, you need to have all thea mental energy ready to go. You can’t come in “tired” because you will fail out quickly.</p>

<p>Good luck with whatever you decide to do!</p>

9

<p>Thank you for all the replies! Everyone has given me a lot to think about.</p>