The Unbalanced Equation of Work-Life "Balance"

How is life treating you? Ah, the eternal question that manages to squeeze its way into every conversation, like a persistent mosquito on a summer night. It's been roughly 365 days since I took my first shaky steps into the world of acting, only to find myself bombarded with inquiries about my elusive work-life balance. Oh, the irony of it all.

Let's address the elephant in the room, shall we? Work-life balance? Ha! It's more like a seesaw with a particularly heavy elephant on one end and a feather on the other.

Each day begins with the cruel realization that the clock has struck six, and I'm forced to drag myself out of bed, usually after hitting the snooze button a few times for good measure. Then it's off to the illustrious halls of the top second-ranked university, where I embark on my journey toward what I hope will be a fulfilling career. Spoiler alert: it's not always smooth sailing.

Picture this: me, bleary-eyed and barely functional, munching on a sad excuse for breakfast consisting of an orange and a slice of bread (if I'm lucky), while thinking about the upcoming tough day.

From eight in the morning until the hour of five, I'm trapped within the confines of four dreary walls, surrounded by six windows that mockingly remind me of the world outside. And let's not forget the door, so small it could barely fit a student carrying the entire art store with them.

By five o'clock, I finally escape the soul-sucking fluorescent lights, feeling exhausted and worn out. But instead of relief, I'm bombarded with criticisms, more work to do, and a mounting pile of expenses that could bring tears to the eyes of even the most penny-pinching among us.

But wait, the fun doesn't stop there. As I pack up my belongings (and bid farewell to what little remains of my bank account), my phone explodes with calls from set, each one more urgent than the last. It's as if the entire production hinges on my mere presence, as if I possess some mystical power to restore order to chaos with a single glance.

They say, "Out of the frying pan and into the fire," but honestly, I'd take the fire at this point.

After bidding farewell to the halls of academia, I am ready to embark on yet another adventure in the world of acting. Gone are the days of pretending like I have it all together; now, I embrace the chaos and dive headfirst into the madness, all in the pursuit of that sweet, sweet paycheck.

And by the way, who needs protein when you've got dreams to chase, am I right? In layman's terms, I basically forget to eat. Like, ever. And don't even get me started on hydrating – who has time for water breaks when you're busy slaying the acting game?

After wrapping up my day at around midnight, I head straight home, where the first order of business is transforming into attire so stylish, it could prompt passersby to start tossing coins my way. Once the room stops its merry-go-round impression, I open up my Instagram, managing not one, not two, but a whopping five accounts. Yes, I've somehow become the social media maestro behind both my college's digital presence and my personal blog.

At the stroke of 1 AM, I shift my focus to my ever-growing pile of assignments and models, armed with nothing but determination and the occasional paper cut from a pencil cutter that's sharper than a tongue laced with sarcasm. These injuries have become so routine that I often only notice them when I reach for the hand soap or sanitizer.

Despite my brain clocking out promptly at 4 AM, I soldier on until the birds start chirping, fueled by a potent mixture of sleep deprivation and sheer stubbornness. And as for meals? Who has time for proper nourishment when there are deadlines looming?

And then comes;

Ah, the weekend – a time for relaxation and rejuvenation, or so they say. Instead, I bid adieu to all of social interactions, opting to bury myself in a mountain of college work and stolen moments of shut-eye. But fear not, for I am a master of balance – between dodging social obligations and catching up on much-needed sleep, that is. Ah, the joys of higher education – it's a never-ending cycle of exhaustion, caffeine, and avoiding human contact.

For the past year, this has been my life's blueprint: juggling academic triumphs, and navigating the maze of architecture studies. While my health may have taken a rollercoaster ride this year – think more peaks and valleys than a topographical map – I remain undeterred. After all, I've firmly planted my flag in the realm of professional writing, contributing to various esteemed newspapers.

In my architectural journey, I've had the opportunity to meet and learn from professionals in the field. I've conducted interviews and gone on site visits with fellow students, building connections that will likely be beneficial in the future – because as they say, your network is your net-worth.

Now, you might wonder how I manage it all, or maybe if she is a super human who got it all naturally, Well, I hate to burst the bubble, but it is a delicate dance between career aspirations and mental well-being, with the added bonus of a concerned mother poised to intervene at the first hint of complaint.

Truth being told, I have my career at such a young age at the cost of my mental health.