Sitting in my chair, constant thoughts running through my head. Worrying about what is next to come in my day. I think about what class I have next and the homework I’ll get. And the things I have to do later that leave little to no time for that homework. It just builds and builds and builds. Until I stop thinking. I remember the little things I get to do later that bring me instant joy and immediately puts a little grin on my face. No one knows what I'm smiling about but I do. It's the little things. It's the warm coffee I decided I’m going to make after school. It’s the dinner my mom will have ready for me after practice. It’s the thought of my two little puppies sitting on the cold tile waiting just for me to get home. And suddenly the stress from before of everything I had to do goes away. I become excited about the little things in my day that I briefly looked past before.

It started around August when my calm summer was interrupted by a mailed letter from the school. I went into school to get what would be my schedule for the upcoming school year. Seeing all of my classes and knowing my schedule with sports, I knew it was going to make for a hectic year. I didn’t put much thought into it until the calendar flipped to September and it was time to start school. All the homework and getting up early and the late nights were making it tough for me to get excited about it starting back up. But I had a better mindset this year because things were starting to wind down with covid and the mask mandates. At least I thought they were.

I walk into the building and just seconds after I enter I am swallowed by the fast-moving current of students. I can think of a million other places I’d rather be than a school at 7 in the morning. There are students and teachers as far as I can see and I can smell whatever it is they whipped up in the cafeteria today. It's not a very pleasant smell. My conversation is drowned out by the noise of everyone around me. Lockers slamming, doors opening, and conversations running wild. The building is filled with dragging teenagers and ready-to-teach teachers on this rainy Monday morning. 

After walking through the doors I quickly look for my friends and they immediately put a smile on my face. I'm wearing my usual, which is anything that's comfy enough to sleep in. My short brown hair is down as usual and my green eyes are covered with a little plastic piece that makes the world a little easier to see. I walk through the hall, eyes half-opened and body barely functioning. I’m thinking about how long this day is going to be.

I’ve come to realize how boring my life would be without my sports. So I just take the extra work it brings and do with it what I can. It becomes stressful at times but nothing more than just losing a little sleep from here and there. School and sports are my life right now, so I might as well make the most of it. Besides I have the little things to help cheer me up now and then. When I look past the problems I’m having I start to notice the more exciting things in life.