how much is too much?

I've been stressed out lately. With the EE, History IA, the written task 2 (AVID English is behind by quite a bit) and anything else my other classes give me, its starting to take a toll.  On top of that, i'm also still going on college trips, as other possibilities enter my mind, which takes quite a large chunk of my free time on the weekends.While I feel that this is doable, its getting close to the breaking point. Maybe its how I spend my time, the fact that were the guinea pig class for TOK II, or the placement of the class itself  its pushing me onto thin ice.

How much homework is too much? Is anyone else feeling stressed about the papers?

got spirit?

I remember being so excited for Halloween, especially since a few landed on Friday and Saturday  for more time to keep looting. Getting a costume, a group of people to go with, and route to get the most candy. the group i would go with would go to someones house and set up candy trading stations to get the candy we wanted. this year, i stayed home as my brother and Dad went out to get candy. We usually count how many trick-or-treaters we get. Usually we would get upwards of 100, but this year, we only go 16. Most of the kids went to a trunk or treat, and those that ended up going house-to-house, only a few were in costumes.
When did the idea of Halloween change from running around multiple neighborhoods with creative costumes become walking a matter of feet between cars and lazy or no costumes? which brings me to my question;

What are your thoughts on the Halloween spirit these days?

(also, i find it quire counterproductive that we are trying to fight child obesity, and then turn around to throw massive amounts of candy at kids, and call it a holiday)

Routines

I often see myself falling into routines. Daily ones for school, weekly ones for events like piano lessons, what chores have to be done, and what parent i'm with for the night. Weekend ones as well, as i switch who i'm staying with for the weekend every week.
I like routines, but eventually get bored, and even a bit depressed if I stay in one for too long. On the flip side, when routine is broken, i get stressed out, especially if its short notice, or no notice at all.

do you find yourself in routines, and what are your feelings about them?

College and career path

After visiting a few colleges over MEA break, something dawned on me. I'm only 17, and making one of the most important decisions of my life. Not only choosing where i will stay for the next 4 to 5 years, but a degree, and a career for the rest of your life (possibly). What if you make the wrong choice in which college to attend, and don't fit in or like the feel after living on campus? What if i decide to switch majors, and the major you want to enter isn't offered at the school you attend currently? College is way to expensive to make a mistake like that. Things like this shouldn't be taken lightly.

 I feel that I will make the right choice, but how am I supposed to know what i want to do for the rest of my life?

Should we, and can we be trusted to make a huge decision like this at our age?

The Glass

People seem to be talking about birthdays a lot  and my birthday came to mind. I'll be turning 18, like most people, but that's not what I'm thinking about. I'm thinking about the date I was born. December 31. New Years eve. People everywhere throw parties and celebrate the end of the old year and the new year. I also see it (jokingly) as people throw parties for my birthday. But they're parties counting down to the end of my birthday.  So this joke that I make every year got me thinking about perception and how we view things.

What causes us to see things the way we do, in terms of glass half  full or half empty?

Don't say anything stupid...

As everyone knows, I don't speak much in class. Or outside of class. I just don't say that much, ever. I'm just too afraid to say anything stupid in front of other people. I know i shouldn't be worried, but I am. I just don't want to be seen as that one guy who said that one thing. It doesn't have to be about what we say, it could also be what we look like.

Why do we, as a culture, worry so much about our perception to other people?

Child at heart

With college being one of the major things on my mind, i cant help but think of what college will be like. Can't wait til next year, and become responsible for myself. Finally begin what we've been working at for 12 years. From what people have said, it should be awesome. But something in the back of my head keeps telling me that I don't want to go to college, or even grow up.

This last summer was spent doing things I enjoyed from my childhood. Playing games like Crash Team Racing and Spyro the Dragonfor the Playstation 1 with my dad and brother. Star wars Battlefront 1 and 2 and Ratchet and Clank: Deadlocked for PS2. Goofing off at my grandparents house. Just did what i used to do when I was a kid. Nostalgia was a major thing that took over my summer.

I know i have to grow up and move on, but being considered and adult and having to take full responsibility seems stressful to me. Im still very excited to move on, but one small part of me doesn't want me to.Why do we not want to grow up?