Junior year. Six Dodge College of Film and Media i Arts classes. A 19-hour work week at The Panther. Participating in Greek life. Working out. Maintaining a 3.99 GPA – and yes, I am still salty about that one GE class.

Life’s tough. And if it hasn’t been made clear yet, I’m stressed. The adjective is my go-to word whenever anyone asks me the infamous, “How are you?” But I won’t go into detail about staying in the editing suites until 4 a.m., or not being able to go to any parties because I have a project to shoot. I don’t want to be that person. 

Honestly, I absolutely love the work I do. I’m passionate about it all, I thrive under pressure, and until all my bottled-up emotions explode and I start profusely sobbing in an entirely packed-Argyros Forum, who’s to say I can’t keep going this way?

This summer was incredible. I interned at Core Digital Media right after I returned from my Japan travel-course – which was both educationally and culturally one of the best trips I’ve ever taken– and everything felt right. I was in Core’s film marketing department and collaborated with a wonderful team and attended meetings, created ads and worked on internal and external branding while producing content for social media. 

I can’t complain about anything from my experience. I even got free tickets to Core’s box suite at the Staples Center – and if you know me, you know I’m a huge concert-enthusiast and will in fact spend all my cash on a front row ticket. 

But the one thing about this internship that struck me as odd was that, for the first time, I had an appropriate amount of tasks to complete. I wasn’t nervous or anxious. I wasn’t using my calming, lavender-scented bath salts every night before submerging myself in a tub and wondering if anything matters when we’re just molecular entities floating in space. I was doing great and that was an interesting adjustment because it caused me to appreciate just how energizing being overloaded actually is.

It’s safe to say I’ve learned a thing or two about myself this summer while at my internship. One, having a ton of work isn’t a bad thing. Being preoccupied with tasks can keep you engaged and helps you realize your true interests, as well as your strengths or weaknesses. Two, everything is relative and there will always be people who wish they had the same access to the opportunities we refuse to take.

Three, you can either make the most of your situation or be the person that always wonders, “What if?” And as a bonus, never live in Westwood for three months and move into a tiny apartment with five other roommates if you value your sanity. 

So to reflect, just because your Myers-Briggs test says you are 94 percent turbulent, or your Co-Star app gives you a dreadful horoscope reading on the massive wave of stress you’re soon to face, everything will be fine. In the words of Taylor Swift herself, you need to calm down.