STRESS and baking gingerbread cookies in August

School has officially started. Besides the fact that i now have a permanent commitment every day from eight o'clock to three fifteen, my stress level has sky rocketed. Going into my junior year, I expected an increase in the work load and even geared up for a little stress. Never in my life could i have prepared for the shock this year has brought to my life. I really am not just complaining, but i spend every spare second i have studying, doing homework, or practicing voice or piano. Personally, I feel that teachers do not understand the amount of time their classes require. If every teacher expects you to do a 'reasonable' hour of work, that ends up being seven hours of homework. Up until this year that situation has never actually happened, but now I find myself up till at least midnight every night. Sleep just doesn't really happen for me anymore. I have no social life any more whatsoever. My stress level is pretty much dangerous. Consider this scenario (which happens quite frequently for me) , I wake up in the mornings and the first thing that passes through my head is....'i can't wait till i can go back to sleep tonight'. I am a typical teenager and typical teenagers do not crave sleep over a social life. Now, switching gears completely. I baked gingerbread cookies last night (in August!). I was totally excited about this project, but it didn't turn out so good. Part of the fun of baking gingerbread cookies is the Christmasy spirit that goes along with the baking. Obviously, in August, i was not really in the Christmas spirit at all. While the baking project was for school, I still was looking forward to it. My hopes of fun were ultimately crushed! How fitting. This added to my stress level. Plus, what teacher really wont let you ice and red hot gingerbread cookies just because it isn't legit 'colonial'?