My Boyfriend

I like to refer to school as my love and hate relationship.
"Am in in a relationship?" my grandparents often ask.
"Do you have a boyfriend?" ask my relatives at all the major holidays.
"Of course!" I often reply. "His name is School."
It's true, really. Every relationship consists of giving and taking. School takes my time, and I give it my time. Hard work is essential in any relationship. You can't be lazy and ignore your significant other. I put hard work into my studies. I write and study and read and even have writing calluses!
Well that was a fun analogy. It's quite true, though. School is so very important in my life. I try my best to get good grades and my efforts result in excitement or disappointment. I'm constantly thinking about college. Sometimes it seems that so much of a young person's life, in today's world, is stolen away by school and pressure and stress and that American "let's-do-work-to-make-more-work" mentality.
Suddenly God's voice is drowned out by my racing thoughts. That test tomorrow! Did I study? Did I write that paper? I can't go to church tonight, because I have too much homework. Did I do those chemistry problems? And how can I succeed in the future unless I am perfect? What college will want less than the best? How will I pay for college? The thoughts go on and on....
That's when I need to distance myself from my love and hate relationship. I need some space. "It's not you, it's me." I say to School. "I need time alone to refuel and rest, so that I can have a better relationship with you in the future."