#i hope this is. hm legible and in anyway worthwhile and. NOT preachy

[dragqueenpentheus]

hi mr spruce!!! since you recently graduated, i wanna ask about your university experience. anything you wanna share including tips for being chronically ill and managing time would be much appreciated!!!!

FOLDS MY HANDS. OKAY. HERES THE DEAL. IT WAS HELLISH. but also a really valuable thing in so many ways. i'm gunna make a lil numbered list of tips and thoughts an opinions bc time management while chronically ill is. NO joke.

honesty hour ask me anything!

1- art school is paying a LOT of money to get your heartbroken during critiques. it also pushes you to do art every single day. which is the best way to improve anything but ESPECIALLY art. i worked my ass off in second and fourth year especially. deciding if any degree is worth it is VERY hard. but i think particularly with art school when with discipline and outreach and research and life drawing nights can achieve. i knew i wasn't going to be able to rely on myself for ALL of that-- especially after my diagnosis. the world got bigger and scarier and the guidance was really needed in order to make any kind of growth. also i HAD to move out of my dads house i was NOT doing well. the change of city was a HUGE help

2- BE SO BLUNT AND HONEST WITH YOURSELF AND OTHERS ABOUT YOUR ABILITIES. jesus christ after realizing how easy it was to swallow pride and send a message asking about extensions and for help CHANGED how i interact with deadlines. when teachers or clients ask when you will be ready with your work. add a week. add a few days of only that's possible. don't feel guilty about being honest and saying i need to go the fuck to bed.

3- the instant i graduated i regretted not committing to one extracurricular and going for it. i think it's worth it. our program worked us VERY hard, but i personally wish i had found something to raise my confidence a little more. been more brazen and present and chasing things i was excited about. i should have gone to at least one knitting circle at my local yarn store.

4- bribe yourself and mean it. you have to earn your treat. BUT you can set your own parameters. if it's a hard day-- make the reward continual and after smaller tasks. couple of chips after doing a question . couple more after another one. but don't EVER chat on it bc ... then it's just too easy to cheat from that point on 😔

4- set little deadlines. use your phone calendar. set little alarms but name it things with emojis and endearments.

5- call yourself endearments. no more cruel words. call yourself sweetheart as you wash some blueberries for your post five questions snack.

6- try not to let resentment about a particular project or even your whole program creep in. be real but think about the things you love and are excited about in a particular project

7- talk to your student center. you can like. request better chairs in your classrooms. insane. i didn't know that for years. could be different school to school but??? most are not looking to get smeared for ableism on social media lmfao

8- little playlists helped me like crazy and continue to do so. especially school during the pandemic which is heartbreaking and lonely. the most valuable part of art school imo is the other artists you meet and grow with. having a whole year of that ripped away was GARBAGE and lonely af. RADIO. PLAYLISTS. TRADE PLAYLISTS WITH YOUR CLASSMATES. MAKE SPECIFIC VIBES ABOUT THE SILLIEST THINGS. I HAVE A PLAYLIST OF SONGS THAT ALL HAVE ANNA IN THE TITLE AND THATS ALL THEY HAVE IN COMMON. I HAVE A PLAYLIST OF SONGS THAT I WOULD SING IN MY COFFEE HOUSE REVENGE FANTASY. score your life and it'll become cinematic.

9- learn about REM cycles for powernaps. set a timer for ten minutes and stick to it. bribe yourself if you have to. it will help if you can't get a full night. take a bunch of forty min and wake up again. get back to it. call it if you have to. it's NOT a failure. it's a gesture of love and care.

10- just god work so hard on loving yourself and learning about the things you love. that's what life is FOR babe. putting moments you adore on the tip of your tongue and letting them melt. you are the PRIORITY. remember the world doesn't revolve around you or your self worth OR your achievements. your good days and your bad days weigh the same to the world. it's got to be you that takes the time to be soft with yourself and have your days matter. being chronically ill means that's a LOT of fucking work and you need a LOT of help. ask for it and give yourself it without shame, hesitancy or remorse.

11- granola bars and juice boxes. nuts. baby bell cheese. you are not going to have the energy after a full day of working to make yourself a real meal. keep some in your room (please not the cheese unless u have a mini fridge)

I LOVE YOU. i'm putting vibes out into the world for it to take care of you as well. stay safe. get a treat.