I hate the "audiobooks aren't reading" argument. It's so incredibly ableist. Thank you for speaking on it! And I'm so glad you're happy and able to do youtube full time. It's been so great watching your channel grow over the 11 (or so) months!
I started tearing up when you talked about self-esteem and uni. I know that a stranger's opinion is not worth much, but I want you to know that I am so proud of what you are able to accomplish. Your passion will always prevail over performance. Sending lots of love xx
I completely understand your feelings towards self worth regarding school. In my second year of uni I fail 9 out of the 10 courses I had because I developed severe depression,anxiety and many dark thoughts. The thing was that my mental health prohibited me from studying and doing well,but doing so poorly was making my mental state worse by the day because from a young age my brain decided that my only value as a person was based on how good my grades where. I'm graduating 3 years after what I should have, which makes me a bit ashamed and it deteriorates my mental health,but my therapist and my mom always tell me that the most important part of it all is that I'm healthy and persevering, fighting at my own pace, so that's my little encouragement to you. Lots of virtual hugs from Spain xx
this has definitely put me far behind in my graduation date as well and I'm experiencing all those same feelings but they're so right, we're much more important than a date of completion, as much as I know how hard it is to internalize - you are so amazing and I'm so glad you're healthy and doing things for you, that is INCREDIBLE. So much love to you
From videos like the Cloud Atlas and the Snow Country reviews it's pretty clear that you get literature and can talk so well and profoundly about it, and I dare say that has hardly anything to do with formal education: it's a product of your reading, of devoting your attention to something so worthy of thought and investigation. I'd say you are great at finding your way through the alleys and bends of the text and even though I'm sure university has enriched your worldview and will keep on doing so when you're ready to come back, I don't think that ability has to come from school at all; the fact that you dedicate yourself so much to keep on reading and talking about literature here on RUclips is enough to guarantee you'll only get better at this that you are already so good at. We are all very proud of you, Emma
I can relate to the shame associated with poor academic performance. I failed my first semester of vet school, because I was dealing with a heavy loss and mental health issues and I felt so embarrassed and ashamed for the next two years, to the point of almost dropping out of school even though I was living my dream. I've learned that you have to accept that people move through life at different speeds and you cannot compare yourself to others. You do what you have to to take care of yourself first and everything else will fall into place. Sending you lots of love
Emma, I understand exactly what you are going through. As an undergrad, I developed a chronic illness that forced me to drop out for 8 months. Even when i returned it was a struggle to finish. But what I learned through that experience was you can always survive and persevere because, simply, you have no choice. Your positive outlook will help you. You will bounce back. Your illness will dictate the timeline and that will be frustrating, but you WILL bounce back. I'm now over halfway through my PhD. Anything is still possible, keep believing. Wishing you all the peace and love you deserve.
When books were first invented, there were so few copies and so few literate people that being read to was the #1 way of consuming literature. Reading was a social event, and something you did out loud even when alone. So if anyone tells you audiobooks don't count as reading, tell them they continue an ancient oral tradition of storytelling while silent reading is a young whippersnapper trend that has never been (and will never be) the only legitimate way of reading. (And I'm saying that as someone who doesn't even use audiobooks! But I did experience severe eye pain for months, and my mother had to read to me while I only looked at the book to see how names were spelled and stuff. So I get it! Listening to audiobooks and combining the physical and audiobook experience makes sense to me.) I'm so sorry that school didn't work out, but I think it's awesome that you prioritized your health. When you're ready for it, it'll be an even better experience for not having exhausted yourself by jumping in too soon.
Recently I dropped the career I've been studying for 2 and a half years because I finally decided that I want to study literature and creative writing in an arts college. Some people judged me because they felt I was throwing away my previous career, and even I judged myself at times. But I am happy! I am happy now I'll be able to study something I truly love. We are so hard on ourselves when it comes to higher education. You shouldn't be ashamed, Emma 💜 thank you for sharing
I love listening to audiobooks. I love the feeling that someone is reading the book to me, plus this way I can read a book anytime! I hope that you get well soon Emma❤️
To anyone one who thinks that listening to an audio book isn't reading, consider what someone once said about John Milton, who in his blindness was read to by his wife; that he would be very surprised to hear that he hadn't read a book
Saying this as someone who went into teaching and appreciates education very much: A. your worth is not tied to academic success. It's not tied to anything but the simple fact you're existing. B. Everyone truly has their own pace. So what if it takes you longer than you planned to finish your degree? Is it life threatening? No. Your health deriotating can be. C. If you're ill, you're ill. It's not something you can control and if you ask me, a very damn good reason for the choices you have made. ❤
you're such an incredibly strong person, emma. I always get strength and motivation from you. thank you so much! and the way you talk about your dog being needy with her right next to you, staring at you apologetically, is so precious. she seems like a ray of sunshine. I love her to bits. please give her a snuggle from me.
the bit about uni literally made me tear up, hearing those words was incredibly comforting and something that i needed. i really hope you can get back on your own feet happy and healthy, and for the time being as you said take it slow!
I love, LOVE reading books physically, and have a lot of them, as I've been collecting books for more than 15 years. But nearly 3 years ago I was diagnosed with an auto-immune disease that, each time it flares up, it badly affects my eyesight, it's really painful and the flare ups last quite a while. And even when they're gone, my eyes never recover 100%, so I've had to rely on audiobooks a lot more ever since.... and I too have gotten a lot of comments like "audiobooks don't count as reading", etc, etc..... And that is so wrong to say and think! When we're little, adults tell us stories, read us books..... and we learn those stories, we retain that information.... and audiobooks are the exact same thing. Plus, it has been scientifically proven that your brain processes the information in the same way, no matter in which format you consume it, be that audio or physically reading. It just gets a bit exhausting to hear the 'book snobs' saying audiobooks are not reading and aren't valid.
I just started reading one hundred years of solitude and to say that I am grateful for the recommendation will be an understatement, I feel so overwhelmed with how beautiful the writing is and how intricate the plot is, absolutely freaking obsessed! Love you! So excited to watch another one of your amazing vlogs
Oh same! We have our finals this month so i have been going really slow but so far, i absolutely adore it, i do get a little confused with the names tho haha
@@happiness4654 I started just yesterday and I can't seem to put it down! haha yes the names can get so complicated I constantly refer to the family tree lmao
@@stephaniekasandra6439 I read the book around half a year ago and to this day I sometimes find myself thinking of some characters and situations. It's interesting to note how memorable a book can be
Thank you for talking about linking your self worth to academic success, listening to you and reading the comments made me feel less alone. My anxiety has been getting worse recently, and I had my first panic attack, along with quite uncomfortable physical anxiety symptoms, so I took a little break. I’m a music major (I play the cello, I actually found your channel through one of the videos where you show your cello😄) and I still did all the things required for my classes, but not in the way I usually do, and I definitely didn’t practice as much. Even though it’s something that I did to get better, I still felt pretty bad about it and about “not working hard enough”, but I’m trying to be easier on myself. To everyone who reads this: I hope you feel better about the things that are worrying you right now, I know you’ll get through it, take it one step at a time and don’t feel bad about prioritizing your health - mental and physical. Sorry for the super long comment and also any typos, English isn’t my first language. Lots of love and support from México!! I hope you have an awesome day/night. Also, your videos always help me calm down after a hard day, so thank you so much for sharing your passion with us💕
Yayyy another long vlog 💕 you won't realize it but your videos are one of the reasons that make me feel like life is still beautiful in these horrible situations that are happening in my country. Thank you Emma. Luv u
I remember how my mental health has gone downhill last 2019. I'm a consistent achiever and a scholar and grades are everything to me. I have undergone an operation for my right eye and I missed lots of classes for that semester resulting into losing my scholarship. It's so comforting to hear that there are people that understand me. Until now, almost 2 years later, I still feel shitty and I always feel anxious and afraid when it comes to grades. Hoping for better days though.
I just wanted to say, thank you for your honesty and just the way you responded to everything so positively and warmly. I honestly might have been annoyed if someone so rudely asked but you did it with a smile and just ... amazing. Thank you. Thank you for sharing that you're not okay and that's okay. Thank you for making the comparison between you and a soccer player because it really does emphasize how ridiculous the pressures we sometimes put on ourselves are. Just ... thank you. For being that corner of coziness, warmth, and happiness during difficult times for many of us, including yourself! You said you were thankful to youtube for providing this outlet and place to still push yourself to do things you want to do, but also thank YOU for providing us this corner and your beautiful thoughts and videos. I hope you feel better every day!
It was so nice to see you physically reading in a few different books in this vlog. I have been following you since you basically first started dealing with your concussion. I hope this means that right now you are feeling a little bit better and I know all of us who watch your videos will continue to hope for you to feel better. Also thank you for opening up and sharing with us!
dealing with mental health and uni has been a big struggle for me so i feel you emmie :( i also just know how much you’ve been trying and i hope you know how amazing it is! i’m proud of you. i feel like you have the absolute best advices for us who are also struggling so please please listen to your own words! you know yourself better than anyone, you know how smart you are and how much you try every single day. be proud of that and do what is best for you. treat yourself like another individual you need to care for
Appreciate your thoughts on self-worth. We often think that we are defined by what we do-but what we do is simply one among many expressions of who we are... I’m so excited that you’re doing RUclips full time! ❤️❤️❤️
I feel you with the self-worth and academia. I continue to have trouble with this too. It's difficult to transition to being out of school and come to terms with the fact that you are more than your grades and academic success. I wish you the best as you navigate this time. I'm so happy you're here on RUclips as your videos bring me so much joy! 💚
Hey Emmie, I totally relate to your frustration and exhaustion of trying to navigate your education while dealing with health issues. I had to drop several classes during my freshman and sophomore years, but it helped when I reminded myself that "This isn't the end of the world. I will get through this. Everything will be okay in the end. I am okay." I wish you swell health and hope that you can remind yourself that this will all be okay.
I could really relate to your chat about school. I am currently finishing school that I was supposed to finish at 18/19 years old at an age of 25... I went many years without doing anything (no school, no job, nothing) because it was all I could do to just survive the day (due to physical and mental health issues). I hated when people asked me about school/work because I felt like such a failure to have not finished. It's been really difficult to accept that this is my path. It doesn't look the same to most other people's path but that's okay. I'm finally okay with it, it was always meant to work out this way. My mental health is doing better, but right before I went back to school, my physical health took a turn for the worse. But with a lot of careful planning and a shift in priority (my priority now is 1. my health and wellbeing, 2. school. Everything else has to take a backseat), it's manageable. Like you said, it doesn't matter how long it takes you to finish something. Do what's right for you in that moment to stay healthy and well
Thanks so much for opening up about the interplay between physical illness and mental health. I've been getting migraine attacks so badly for the last fortnight I've hardly been able to make it through my working days, let alone keep up with making RUclips videos and it's really got me down. It's reassuring to be reminded that we can only do our best and we have to take care of ourselves first. Also just to read the comments and know I'm not alone in struggling. I'm grateful for the lovely community you've created here.💛
Good for you for putting your health first! I know it must have been really hard to drop your class but it was for the best. The most important thing is your healing.
Hi Emma! I haven't ever commented on your videos before, but I just wanted to thank you for introducing me to Libby! I'm fairly new to your channel (probably within the last month or so?) and listening to audio books has helped me SO much already in that time. You talking about libby reminded me that I also have it from my library and prompted me to check it out, and it has already been a lifesaver. and yes, audio books are 100% "real reading"! I listened to audio books so much as a child and it helped me then, but I hadn't for ages until you reintroduced me to them. So thank you SO much for that! It has changed the course of my year.
Your talk about your uni experience really resonates with me. I have ADHD and I’ve consistently struggled to feel intelligent my whole life and a lot of it is because of my experience in the classroom. I’ve recently given up my dream of completing grad school, and it’s been surprisingly difficult. All of my close friends are PhD candidates and I always end up feeling like I’m less successful than they are. I feel like I’m just now learning how to define success in a way that isn’t attached to a grade of some sort.
I've always found trouble not to do homework and assignments, even when for doing it I get really poor sleep and burnt out. I might not be able to improve that habit, but what you said really got me thinking to start caring about my health first ☺️ Thank you and I hope you have a wonderful week ahead 💖
Emmie, I was making breakfast while this was playing and when you were talking about education and self worth I basically teared up. Thanks so much for sharing that. I don't have an actual injury, but I've been really struggling, and I had to drop my english course. It sucks because I'm someone who wants to learn and I value my education and I still can't keep up
Struggling is completely normal and on top of that english courses can be extremely demanding, there's absolutely no shame in taking a break or stepping away from something, you can always come back :) You're amazing and I'm sending you so much love
Dear Emma, I'm so blown away by your honesty and bravery in showing your vulnerability. I can't tell you how much your videos are helping me in ways I couldn't have predicted. You're not alone in having placed your worth in academic performance. I was a straight A student all throughout high school and then got really lost when I got to uni. I couldn't seem to make up my mind about what I wanted to study because I had so many different interests. I changed my undergrad from pharmacy to hispanic philology, in the hopes of finding some comfort in my love for literature. I however lost all motivation and spent some really dark years feeling all out of hope and purpose, couldn't even bring myself to read half the compulsory readings of any course. I stopped reading at all. Knowing that my career prospects would be next to nothing didn't help (in Spain, when you study philology you either become a teacher or become a teacher, and I didn't want that). Worst part is... I still somehow I managed to perform extremely well, cum laude, becoming an automat test taker and developing a really bad impostor syndrome. I started feeling like a fraud and it darkened every other aspect of my life. Perhaps that's why once I completed my degree and parted ways with uni, it was bliss. For someone whose entire worth consisted of being good at taking tests (sadly quite literally), I can't tell you how scared I was of facing a world that no longer required me to prove my curriculum knowledge, but my actual skills and common sense. But letting go of that part of myself and finding new and more meaningful ways of self-validation helped me to start enjoying myself and feeling more content. I've lived in several countries, travelled a fair amount and held some random jobs, but I can't tell you how much I've enjoyed the adventure of wandering. Discovering your channel this year has been perfect timing, cause now, almost 7 years after finishing my bachelor, I'm finally back to uni, completing a master in English studies and preparing to start my PhD after the summer. All this while doing a full time job, but I couldn't have made it any other way. I think your path takes you wherever you need to go. Thank you for helping me rediscover my love for books, which I thought lost. Can't tell you how much you motivate me to keep pushing and finally allowing myself to enjoy reading as I used to, without expectations. Thank you so much 💜 I wish you all the best in your own journey and hope you can keep treating yourself and others with this much kindness. Keep up the cozy and asmr vibes 🥰 love from a Spaniard living in UK
I've been heavily relying on audiobooks this year bc my adhd has been really bad and I cant focus on a physical book for more than 5 minutes at a time and bc uni and the pandemic have been kicking my ass. I've felt really insecure about it cause it felt like I wasn't really reading bc they're just audiobooks but you have really helped me realize that it's valid.
I am sorry to hear about having to drop the class that you were excited about but is definitely not everything in life. We are not only our education or our jobs... at least I think of it as things, experiences and opportunities throughout your life but that isn't our only identity or worth. We are our dreams and goals, and how you deal with everything in between (with the stuff that is in your control and the stuff you can't control)... anyway, I don't know if this makes any sense but it does in my head lol. We are excited to have your content here on RUclips if it means anything? so ánimo! :D
Emma, I can totally relate to problems with Apartments and wanting to leave ASAP. I've had problems with noisy neighbors for years and it's the worst especially when you can't sleep properly. Sending you love.
Your channel is literally one of my two favorite channels. I don’t even count your videos as bad screen time (which I’m trying to limit), it’s more like meditation.
i can relate a lot to associating self worth to academic success. I dropped out of uni last year because i tried to study abroad and i was feeling extremely lonely and sad I couldn't cope... i still feel like a lost a complete year sometimes even though i am now enroled in another course sooo it sucks. so glad you talked about this :) love you
In my last year of school I was unavoidably out of the country for my final exams, and I had to make the decision to not do the exams and take care of my mental health instead. I was so stressed about being overseas and completing my exams at the same time, and I felt so ashamed that I didn't push myself to do it. Now, three years later, I regret absolutely nothing. The shame has faded with time, and I'm so glad I took care of my mental health rather than pushing myself to do exams just because I wanted to be like everyone else.
I found you two days ago, and I am in the process of watching everything you uploaded! Love your vibe, your thoughts and your recommendations. Absolutely over the moon to see that you’re vegan as well :) x
Definitely felt you when you were talking about your feelings with uni, it’s really hard thinking like that but I’m proud of you for doing all that you are able too. The fact you try everyday is amazing a lot of people wouldn’t ❤️ Such a calming video to watch during a busy Sunday, hope you have a great day!
hi! i don’t know if you’ve done one of these but i would loveee a video about how you annotate your books and the supplies you use! i’ve been trying to annotate my books more
Honestly this hit home haaaard! I had to drop out of my dream uni 4 yrs ago because my kidney failed and I had to go on dialysis, with all the symptoms i was just not capable of continuing the work. I tried going back after a year and had to drop out again because i was just in denial and refused to put my health first until it got to crisis point. Last academic year I started at the open university (an online uni here in the UK) and even though I had a kidney transplant last year, i still suffer with fatigue and complete imposter syndrome as Im studying something completely different to before and exam season is fast approaching and I just hooooope i make it through! next academic year (in october) im only going to take one module instead of two because goddamn i need a break and a holiday and just enjoy getting my life back again. love you and your vids completely!
As a neurologist and reader, I have treated post concussion syndrome so I understand what you are experiencing. I’m also sure that the frustration that you feel seems like it is life changing. It is. But, time will show you the importance of taking the time to heal now so that you can resume your full life later. I hope you are getting treatment and medical support that will help. Yoga and diet and walks in nature are terrific. Opportunities like higher education will be there in the future. Life is a marathon not a sprint. Give yourself permission to have a break. Peace and love 💕
You are sending such an important message to all of us, showing that you can find a way to work on the things you are passionate about even though you are going through certain challenges. Very inspiring and powerful. One of my favourite quotes would sum it up: ''If you are going through hell, keep going.'' W. Churchill Sending you lots of love and warm hugs!
You are amazing💗 You have no idea how much light you bring to our lives💗💗💗💗 Your videos bring so much joy and peace💗💗💗 you are a true inspiration My Dear🤗😘
I had to read a sample of Music of the Night because your critique made me laugh. You're right: she uses commas where there should be periods or where commas aren't needed at all.
Take it easy Emma. I can totally relate to what your saying. Sometimes I can't work because of my illness. I can't read sometimes because my muscle pain and my neck and is my full time hobbie so I'm also listening to audiobooks and buy the physicall ones too. I know you can do it, just be patience, give yourself all the time you need and all be worth it !!! Also, thank you for keep sharing your experiences. You have no idea how much you inspired me to keep fighting!!💪💪🤗🤗 Hugs from Argentina!!!
It must be hard to have these thoughts and feelings. But, as with all things, these too will pass. Give it time. And just continue to do the things that make you feel happy.
i admire you so much emmie! a few years ago i took a single college course one semester because it’s all i could do at the time. i stuck to it but i really regret not taking the time i needed. know that everything will be okay and please continue taking care of yourself! 💝
I had to stop uni for a year because of my depression & anxiety and it was so hard to deal with, especially because I felt like all my friends were carrying on without me & I was falling behind. I managed to finish my degree eventually and I'm back in education for my masters now. It honestly will get better, it might just take some time to get there
Ahhh that self-worth talk hits home. I still struggle with that sometimes but I'm slowly learning not to base my self worth on my academic success and discipline (bc a lot of success comes from discipline and I struggle with that). It's a process. Sometimes it helps knowing that I know people who are really successful in life and academically but are just in my opinion bad people and I wouldn't want to be like them and that I know many people I respect and value who don't have academic titles and that helps a bit sometimes. And to look at all the things that I love doing and that I'm interested in. At in the end it won't really matter all that much. I hope you manage to slowly get past those bad feelings. Hugs.
I have a Kindle Voyage and an Onyx Boox Nova 2. I listen to audiobooks and read on the E-Readers as well. Both are great. Sorry to hear that you had a head injury. Hope that you are doing well. You seem friendly and cozy. I am near to retirement age and a piano player and avid reader. I have read that reading, meditation, and playing the piano are very good for our brain's healing and prevention of aging for us old codgers. Love your Vlog. Take care.
I can't understand why people think audiobooks don't have value? They do. When you're so stressed or tired or busy to read the book phisically you still can be in need to continuing that book. At night, when you're in bed, you can just listen it till you sleep. When you're reading it while you're also listening, you can actually hear different voices. Probably they can understand it when they do it.
feel you on the apartment trouble. The place I’ve just moved out of had pigeons nesting in the attic (I love pigeons. Just not as neighbours), a leaking toilet, only sporadic hot water, and a downstairs neighbour’s extractor fan positioned directly below my bed. Sleep was difficult to come by. Wishing you the best with it, Emma!! Edit - (also, much love to you re: the troubles with school, mental health etc. you open up about later in the video. You seem like a great person, Emma, so I think things will turn out.. great!)
I'm so sorry you've been feeling so bad about not being able to complete your class. I had the same feeling last year--I was in a vet tech program and had to stop in the middle of the first round of clinical externship because I was so overwhelmed and anxious. I'm really lucky I already work as a vet assistant, but between my actual work and all the skills I had to complete and write about, I just couldn't do it. I completely understand having to quit something because of one's health. I'm sorry you had to do that but just keep reminding yourself you did it to take care of yourself and ultimately that's what matters
Oh my.. I totally get your point. I used to torture myself just like you do, thinking I am worthless just because I didn't succeed in this or that, but life is so unpredictable and this is the exact place to look for its beauty. Honestly, you shouldn't feel bad. Just think that you are still educating yourself, still being productive and (trust the elder) you will realize this as the time passes by. Right now you have the amazing opportunity to work on yourself by yourself. Typical education will not provide you with an "out of the box" way of thinking which will definitely help you in the future, especially if you are planning to follow an academic career, and more importantly in the process of making better life choices. Trust me, everything will make sense one day...! Stay strong Emma! Wish you the best!
totally get the topic about uni and self-worth! I'm struggling so much to keep up with my literature degree that I'm thinking about dropping out and do something else (that is on my "low" intelligence level). I feel that I'm no good at studying and that makes me feel completely useless and ashamed. I'm stuck in a moment of my degree and it sucks. It seems like everyone else around me is getting things acomplished and being succesful excepto for me.
Omgosh, I love how You talk to your dog just as if you are talking to a human friend! I do the same with my little dog. Your videos are great, so I’m a new subscribers!
My dog is exactly like that... she won’t even let us leaving the apartment, not even taking the trash out for a minute.. she starts barking sooo loudly.. we might go back to the office to work soon and I seriously dk what to do with her 🤦♀️ YAy, legendborn is on my TBR as well! 🙂
I also had to drop out for a year in 2019 because of health issues and it was the best decision I could’ve made. Sometimes I do feel bad cause I won’t graduate in time, but I just had to accept that my health comes first and that it matters. So I hope you do get to feel better about your decision for uni as well. Sending lots of love 💕
Omg, I can't believe people would still say that! First of all, I love the fact that you own physical copies of books and also enjoy listening to audiobooks, cause I do the same. But just a remark for ones who think that listening to audiobooks doesn't require having a physical copy of the book, I'm gonna stop them right there and say that: They've ABSOLUTELY got all wrong! Cause part of the pleasure you feel while reading the text itself is also hearing, or listening to it being narrated Especially by a good narrtor, be it on audible or any other app, because the mere ability of the narrator to use his voice to paint a scene or create an atmosphere where you the story becomes real and enjoy even more, is pure joy by itself. And for the ones who don't know how that feels, they have still yet to learn!
I completely understand were you’re coming from with the education as self worth. Ive always been a pretty good student I’m currently in my forth year as a history major. But this online class thing its just so frustrating to me. I live in the middle of the mountains in Puerto Rico and my internet is terrible and I’m not the best when it comes to technology. Most of the time I can barely understand what my professors are saying. They expect us to do the same amount of work and the same quality of work when all the archives and libraries are closed. They expect us to do all of our research online, but for some of us it can be so draining when you have to wait 30 minutes for a document or pdf to download just to find out that it wont really help with the investigation and you have to repeat the process. My grades have definitely been affected because of this situation. The first semester I just felt terrible about myself, but now I’m more aware that things that are making my studies complicated are just out of my control at the moment and I’m learning to be at peace with it.
I’ve gotten into audio books on Libby (which I didn’t know was a thing - thanks for helping me discover free audio books through my local library!) through your channel. It helps me get through more reading because I can listen while I drive as well as while I’m doing things like designing my bullet journal pages!
So sorry things didn’t work out with school this semester. Been there. I was always an A student and then when my mental health got bad I had to drop out of my first semester of grad school. I tried again somewhere else the following fall and had to drop down to a part-time load but finished. Then had to do some follow-up undergrad work and went through the same thing again. It’s a horrible feeling because rationally you understand what’s going on and would be empathetic if it was a friend or peer going through the same thing but it’s so difficult to lend that same kindness to ourselves. My best advice, if you are considering going back in the fall, is take courses you’ve started if they’re offered or, if you have a course that you want to take and it’s been offered before, reach out to the prof in the summer, explain the situation, and see if the syllabus will be the same or similar so you can read ahead and then only re-read/write while the semester is in progress. I got through all of my major novels for the year the one summer and I cannot emphasize how much easier the rest of the year was. Even just having the assurance that you’ve encountered the text before helps things 12/10. Also try to have a more thorough meeting with accessibility services. It’s hard to see how difficult and ableist doing an English degree is while you’re in the thick of it, and too easy to point blame on ourselves when we don’t meet the threshold.
I also found English grad classes a lot easier because there’s no exam, only a final 16-20 page paper, so you could see if you could get into some of those too!
Salutations, Emmie! I heard some expert advice on your dog situation a while back. From what I remember, the idea is to establish an interval of time for your pet to be alone each day (say, an hour) and if possible, increase the interval gradually until they’ve adapted to being home alone for a given time. I know it’s rough. I personally love all the needy boys and girls out there 🐶 🐱 and wish we never had to leave them. Good luck!
Our dog cry and cry if my mon goes on her job for few hours. He bark at everyone and cry at front door until she comes at evening. So we start to feeding him some more so he sleeps through out the day. 🐣
The lesson I've learned in my so far 50 years is that we are always more forgiving of others than we are ourselves. We always told to 'Be Kind', and that should start with ourselves.
Uhh, you should totally read the Binti trilogy (it's 3 novellas, so not very long at all) by Nnedi Okorafor. Science fiction meets the African soul; it's about a young girl who's going to university in space and it's a plea for tolerance, I absolutely loved it. Also, really appreciated your honest chat. I have definitely struggled with attaching my self-worth to academics, and it's nice to hear such affirming words. Wish you all the best for the future
I have been really struggling to read physical books at the rate I used to for the past few years and your channel convinced me to give audiobooks a shot. What a game changer! Honestly the whole audiobooks versus "real reading" debate has always seemed a bit ableist to me. Does it really matter that much what medium you consume the book in. Sending love and warmth your way, hope you're doing well these days❤️
Just wanna let you know that you're the one who inspired me into reading. I saw your vlog one time and have been your fan ever since. Thank you for another great video, Emma! ❤
Two drops bothered me: A six credit course in The Calculus, and another six credit course in Physics. The problem was (I can say now with confidence) lack of attention in Junior and Senior High geometry, trigonometry, et al, which were for me just a series of easy answers arrived at without pencil and paper. After graduation Law seemed a better choice than Math (or History), though to be honest I think I may have burned out a little bit doing sums in my head.
I’ve only been subscribed for a few weeks now so I had no idea you were dealing with post-concussion syndrome, that’s so tough 😔 and it can definitely be difficult to be kind to yourself about taking a break from school even if you know that’s ultimately the best choice for your well-being. For what it’s worth I think it’s such an amazing opportunity that you’re able to work on RUclips full-time and get paid for it until you feel ready to continue with education. Life’s not a race, the school will be there when you’re ready to work on it without causing yourself unnecessary stress or harm! But yeah, it’s hard to free your sense of self-worth from something it’s been tied to for a long time. Please try to be kind to yourself, you’re doing amazing things 😌
Ah, I think we can all relate to weighing our validity based on academic affirmation and success. You got this :) happy Sunday, everyone
I hate the "audiobooks aren't reading" argument. It's so incredibly ableist. Thank you for speaking on it! And I'm so glad you're happy and able to do youtube full time. It's been so great watching your channel grow over the 11 (or so) months!
I started tearing up when you talked about self-esteem and uni. I know that a stranger's opinion is not worth much, but I want you to know that I am so proud of what you are able to accomplish. Your passion will always prevail over performance. Sending lots of love xx
your words mean so much to me!! Thank you thank you thank you
I completely understand your feelings towards self worth regarding school. In my second year of uni I fail 9 out of the 10 courses I had because I developed severe depression,anxiety and many dark thoughts. The thing was that my mental health prohibited me from studying and doing well,but doing so poorly was making my mental state worse by the day because from a young age my brain decided that my only value as a person was based on how good my grades where.
I'm graduating 3 years after what I should have, which makes me a bit ashamed and it deteriorates my mental health,but my therapist and my mom always tell me that the most important part of it all is that I'm healthy and persevering, fighting at my own pace, so that's my little encouragement to you.
Lots of virtual hugs from Spain xx
this has definitely put me far behind in my graduation date as well and I'm experiencing all those same feelings but they're so right, we're much more important than a date of completion, as much as I know how hard it is to internalize - you are so amazing and I'm so glad you're healthy and doing things for you, that is INCREDIBLE. So much love to you
I have almost the exact same situation and honestly your comment warmed my heart ♥️
From videos like the Cloud Atlas and the Snow Country reviews it's pretty clear that you get literature and can talk so well and profoundly about it, and I dare say that has hardly anything to do with formal education: it's a product of your reading, of devoting your attention to something so worthy of thought and investigation. I'd say you are great at finding your way through the alleys and bends of the text and even though I'm sure university has enriched your worldview and will keep on doing so when you're ready to come back, I don't think that ability has to come from school at all; the fact that you dedicate yourself so much to keep on reading and talking about literature here on RUclips is enough to guarantee you'll only get better at this that you are already so good at.
We are all very proud of you, Emma
I can relate to the shame associated with poor academic performance. I failed my first semester of vet school, because I was dealing with a heavy loss and mental health issues and I felt so embarrassed and ashamed for the next two years, to the point of almost dropping out of school even though I was living my dream. I've learned that you have to accept that people move through life at different speeds and you cannot compare yourself to others. You do what you have to to take care of yourself first and everything else will fall into place. Sending you lots of love
Emma, I understand exactly what you are going through. As an undergrad, I developed a chronic illness that forced me to drop out for 8 months. Even when i returned it was a struggle to finish. But what I learned through that experience was you can always survive and persevere because, simply, you have no choice. Your positive outlook will help you. You will bounce back. Your illness will dictate the timeline and that will be frustrating, but you WILL bounce back. I'm now over halfway through my PhD. Anything is still possible, keep believing. Wishing you all the peace and love you deserve.
When books were first invented, there were so few copies and so few literate people that being read to was the #1 way of consuming literature. Reading was a social event, and something you did out loud even when alone. So if anyone tells you audiobooks don't count as reading, tell them they continue an ancient oral tradition of storytelling while silent reading is a young whippersnapper trend that has never been (and will never be) the only legitimate way of reading. (And I'm saying that as someone who doesn't even use audiobooks! But I did experience severe eye pain for months, and my mother had to read to me while I only looked at the book to see how names were spelled and stuff. So I get it! Listening to audiobooks and combining the physical and audiobook experience makes sense to me.)
I'm so sorry that school didn't work out, but I think it's awesome that you prioritized your health. When you're ready for it, it'll be an even better experience for not having exhausted yourself by jumping in too soon.
Recently I dropped the career I've been studying for 2 and a half years because I finally decided that I want to study literature and creative writing in an arts college. Some people judged me because they felt I was throwing away my previous career, and even I judged myself at times. But I am happy! I am happy now I'll be able to study something I truly love. We are so hard on ourselves when it comes to higher education. You shouldn't be ashamed, Emma 💜 thank you for sharing
I love listening to audiobooks. I love the feeling that someone is reading the book to me, plus this way I can read a book anytime!
I hope that you get well soon Emma❤️
To anyone one who thinks that listening to an audio book isn't reading, consider what someone once said about John Milton, who in his blindness was read to by his wife; that he would be very surprised to hear that he hadn't read a book
Saying this as someone who went into teaching and appreciates education very much:
A. your worth is not tied to academic success. It's not tied to anything but the simple fact you're existing.
B. Everyone truly has their own pace. So what if it takes you longer than you planned to finish your degree? Is it life threatening? No. Your health deriotating can be.
C. If you're ill, you're ill. It's not something you can control and if you ask me, a very damn good reason for the choices you have made.
❤
yes yes yes, this is 100% what I need to keep telling myself and others, thank you
you're such an incredibly strong person, emma.
I always get strength and motivation from you. thank you so much!
and the way you talk about your dog being needy with her right next to you, staring at you apologetically, is so precious. she seems like a ray of sunshine. I love her to bits. please give her a snuggle from me.
your comments always brighten my day, thank you
@@emmiereads 💓💓💓
@@hyemiyah Hi, I'm new here, do you know how she got her concussion?
@@riri_2109 hi! i don't think she ever told us how she got hurt so i don't think she's comfortable talking about it.
the bit about uni literally made me tear up, hearing those words was incredibly comforting and something that i needed. i really hope you can get back on your own feet happy and healthy, and for the time being as you said take it slow!
I love, LOVE reading books physically, and have a lot of them, as I've been collecting books for more than 15 years. But nearly 3 years ago I was diagnosed with an auto-immune disease that, each time it flares up, it badly affects my eyesight, it's really painful and the flare ups last quite a while. And even when they're gone, my eyes never recover 100%, so I've had to rely on audiobooks a lot more ever since.... and I too have gotten a lot of comments like "audiobooks don't count as reading", etc, etc..... And that is so wrong to say and think!
When we're little, adults tell us stories, read us books..... and we learn those stories, we retain that information.... and audiobooks are the exact same thing.
Plus, it has been scientifically proven that your brain processes the information in the same way, no matter in which format you consume it, be that audio or physically reading.
It just gets a bit exhausting to hear the 'book snobs' saying audiobooks are not reading and aren't valid.
I just started reading one hundred years of solitude and to say that I am grateful for the recommendation will be an understatement, I feel so overwhelmed with how beautiful the writing is and how intricate the plot is, absolutely freaking obsessed! Love you! So excited to watch another one of your amazing vlogs
Oh same! We have our finals this month so i have been going really slow but so far, i absolutely adore it, i do get a little confused with the names tho haha
@@happiness4654 I started just yesterday and I can't seem to put it down! haha yes the names can get so complicated I constantly refer to the family tree lmao
That book absolutely broke me!! I still think about the characters!! I love it tho, its amazing
that is SO wonderful to hear!!! still think about that book daily so wishing you the most magical reading
@@stephaniekasandra6439 I read the book around half a year ago and to this day I sometimes find myself thinking of some characters and situations. It's interesting to note how memorable a book can be
Thank you for talking about linking your self worth to academic success, listening to you and reading the comments made me feel less alone. My anxiety has been getting worse recently, and I had my first panic attack, along with quite uncomfortable physical anxiety symptoms, so I took a little break. I’m a music major (I play the cello, I actually found your channel through one of the videos where you show your cello😄) and I still did all the things required for my classes, but not in the way I usually do, and I definitely didn’t practice as much. Even though it’s something that I did to get better, I still felt pretty bad about it and about “not working hard enough”, but I’m trying to be easier on myself. To everyone who reads this: I hope you feel better about the things that are worrying you right now, I know you’ll get through it, take it one step at a time and don’t feel bad about prioritizing your health - mental and physical. Sorry for the super long comment and also any typos, English isn’t my first language. Lots of love and support from México!! I hope you have an awesome day/night. Also, your videos always help me calm down after a hard day, so thank you so much for sharing your passion with us💕
Thank you for being a light, and gentle presence in this (sometimes, well, most of the time) cruel world. So so so proud of you. ❤️
Thank you for the self-worth talk, I really needed that.
Yayyy another long vlog 💕 you won't realize it but your videos are one of the reasons that make me feel like life is still beautiful in these horrible situations that are happening in my country. Thank you Emma. Luv u
i always look for your comments, and i'm sending you so much love now and always
Awwww 🥺🥰
I remember how my mental health has gone downhill last 2019. I'm a consistent achiever and a scholar and grades are everything to me. I have undergone an operation for my right eye and I missed lots of classes for that semester resulting into losing my scholarship. It's so comforting to hear that there are people that understand me. Until now, almost 2 years later, I still feel shitty and I always feel anxious and afraid when it comes to grades. Hoping for better days though.
Ohhh moving vlogs? Apartment hunting? Vintage/bookish decor? YES PLEASE
I just wanted to say, thank you for your honesty and just the way you responded to everything so positively and warmly. I honestly might have been annoyed if someone so rudely asked but you did it with a smile and just ... amazing. Thank you. Thank you for sharing that you're not okay and that's okay. Thank you for making the comparison between you and a soccer player because it really does emphasize how ridiculous the pressures we sometimes put on ourselves are. Just ... thank you. For being that corner of coziness, warmth, and happiness during difficult times for many of us, including yourself! You said you were thankful to youtube for providing this outlet and place to still push yourself to do things you want to do, but also thank YOU for providing us this corner and your beautiful thoughts and videos. I hope you feel better every day!
It was so nice to see you physically reading in a few different books in this vlog. I have been following you since you basically first started dealing with your concussion. I hope this means that right now you are feeling a little bit better and I know all of us who watch your videos will continue to hope for you to feel better. Also thank you for opening up and sharing with us!
dealing with mental health and uni has been a big struggle for me so i feel you emmie :( i also just know how much you’ve been trying and i hope you know how amazing it is! i’m proud of you. i feel like you have the absolute best advices for us who are also struggling so please please listen to your own words! you know yourself better than anyone, you know how smart you are and how much you try every single day. be proud of that and do what is best for you. treat yourself like another individual you need to care for
Appreciate your thoughts on self-worth. We often think that we are defined by what we do-but what we do is simply one among many expressions of who we are... I’m so excited that you’re doing RUclips full time! ❤️❤️❤️
I feel you with the self-worth and academia. I continue to have trouble with this too. It's difficult to transition to being out of school and come to terms with the fact that you are more than your grades and academic success. I wish you the best as you navigate this time. I'm so happy you're here on RUclips as your videos bring me so much joy! 💚
Hey Emmie, I totally relate to your frustration and exhaustion of trying to navigate your education while dealing with health issues. I had to drop several classes during my freshman and sophomore years, but it helped when I reminded myself that "This isn't the end of the world. I will get through this. Everything will be okay in the end. I am okay." I wish you swell health and hope that you can remind yourself that this will all be okay.
I could really relate to your chat about school. I am currently finishing school that I was supposed to finish at 18/19 years old at an age of 25... I went many years without doing anything (no school, no job, nothing) because it was all I could do to just survive the day (due to physical and mental health issues). I hated when people asked me about school/work because I felt like such a failure to have not finished. It's been really difficult to accept that this is my path. It doesn't look the same to most other people's path but that's okay. I'm finally okay with it, it was always meant to work out this way. My mental health is doing better, but right before I went back to school, my physical health took a turn for the worse. But with a lot of careful planning and a shift in priority (my priority now is 1. my health and wellbeing, 2. school. Everything else has to take a backseat), it's manageable. Like you said, it doesn't matter how long it takes you to finish something. Do what's right for you in that moment to stay healthy and well
your voice are so calm and I really love when you talk about life🕊
Thanks so much for opening up about the interplay between physical illness and mental health. I've been getting migraine attacks so badly for the last fortnight I've hardly been able to make it through my working days, let alone keep up with making RUclips videos and it's really got me down. It's reassuring to be reminded that we can only do our best and we have to take care of ourselves first. Also just to read the comments and know I'm not alone in struggling. I'm grateful for the lovely community you've created here.💛
I know how awful migraines are, so sorry you're going through so many of them :( Sending you so much love, I hope they ease up soon
@@emmiereads Thank you so much! 💛
Good for you for putting your health first! I know it must have been really hard to drop your class but it was for the best. The most important thing is your healing.
Hi Emma! I haven't ever commented on your videos before, but I just wanted to thank you for introducing me to Libby! I'm fairly new to your channel (probably within the last month or so?) and listening to audio books has helped me SO much already in that time. You talking about libby reminded me that I also have it from my library and prompted me to check it out, and it has already been a lifesaver. and yes, audio books are 100% "real reading"! I listened to audio books so much as a child and it helped me then, but I hadn't for ages until you reintroduced me to them. So thank you SO much for that! It has changed the course of my year.
Your talk about your uni experience really resonates with me. I have ADHD and I’ve consistently struggled to feel intelligent my whole life and a lot of it is because of my experience in the classroom. I’ve recently given up my dream of completing grad school, and it’s been surprisingly difficult. All of my close friends are PhD candidates and I always end up feeling like I’m less successful than they are. I feel like I’m just now learning how to define success in a way that isn’t attached to a grade of some sort.
I've always found trouble not to do homework and assignments, even when for doing it I get really poor sleep and burnt out. I might not be able to improve that habit, but what you said really got me thinking to start caring about my health first ☺️
Thank you and I hope you have a wonderful week ahead 💖
Emmie, I was making breakfast while this was playing and when you were talking about education and self worth I basically teared up. Thanks so much for sharing that. I don't have an actual injury, but I've been really struggling, and I had to drop my english course. It sucks because I'm someone who wants to learn and I value my education and I still can't keep up
Struggling is completely normal and on top of that english courses can be extremely demanding, there's absolutely no shame in taking a break or stepping away from something, you can always come back :) You're amazing and I'm sending you so much love
Dear Emma, I'm so blown away by your honesty and bravery in showing your vulnerability. I can't tell you how much your videos are helping me in ways I couldn't have predicted. You're not alone in having placed your worth in academic performance. I was a straight A student all throughout high school and then got really lost when I got to uni. I couldn't seem to make up my mind about what I wanted to study because I had so many different interests. I changed my undergrad from pharmacy to hispanic philology, in the hopes of finding some comfort in my love for literature. I however lost all motivation and spent some really dark years feeling all out of hope and purpose, couldn't even bring myself to read half the compulsory readings of any course. I stopped reading at all. Knowing that my career prospects would be next to nothing didn't help (in Spain, when you study philology you either become a teacher or become a teacher, and I didn't want that). Worst part is... I still somehow I managed to perform extremely well, cum laude, becoming an automat test taker and developing a really bad impostor syndrome. I started feeling like a fraud and it darkened every other aspect of my life. Perhaps that's why once I completed my degree and parted ways with uni, it was bliss. For someone whose entire worth consisted of being good at taking tests (sadly quite literally), I can't tell you how scared I was of facing a world that no longer required me to prove my curriculum knowledge, but my actual skills and common sense. But letting go of that part of myself and finding new and more meaningful ways of self-validation helped me to start enjoying myself and feeling more content. I've lived in several countries, travelled a fair amount and held some random jobs, but I can't tell you how much I've enjoyed the adventure of wandering. Discovering your channel this year has been perfect timing, cause now, almost 7 years after finishing my bachelor, I'm finally back to uni, completing a master in English studies and preparing to start my PhD after the summer. All this while doing a full time job, but I couldn't have made it any other way. I think your path takes you wherever you need to go. Thank you for helping me rediscover my love for books, which I thought lost. Can't tell you how much you motivate me to keep pushing and finally allowing myself to enjoy reading as I used to, without expectations. Thank you so much 💜 I wish you all the best in your own journey and hope you can keep treating yourself and others with this much kindness. Keep up the cozy and asmr vibes 🥰 love from a Spaniard living in UK
Starting my Sunday calmly with Emmie ❤️
aaah love you Lisa!!
I've been heavily relying on audiobooks this year bc my adhd has been really bad and I cant focus on a physical book for more than 5 minutes at a time and bc uni and the pandemic have been kicking my ass. I've felt really insecure about it cause it felt like I wasn't really reading bc they're just audiobooks but you have really helped me realize that it's valid.
I am sorry to hear about having to drop the class that you were excited about but is definitely not everything in life. We are not only our education or our jobs... at least I think of it as things, experiences and opportunities throughout your life but that isn't our only identity or worth. We are our dreams and goals, and how you deal with everything in between (with the stuff that is in your control and the stuff you can't control)... anyway, I don't know if this makes any sense but it does in my head lol. We are excited to have your content here on RUclips if it means anything? so ánimo! :D
Emma, I can totally relate to problems with Apartments and wanting to leave ASAP. I've had problems with noisy neighbors for years and it's the worst especially when you can't sleep properly. Sending you love.
Thank you Emmie for sharing with us something personal and school will always be there ❤️ Continue to take care of yourself
Your channel is literally one of my two favorite channels. I don’t even count your videos as bad screen time (which I’m trying to limit), it’s more like meditation.
So weird but my cat loves your videos! I've never seen her watch anything on TV so intently. :) thanks for the calming vibes
i can relate a lot to associating self worth to academic success. I dropped out of uni last year because i tried to study abroad and i was feeling extremely lonely and sad I couldn't cope... i still feel like a lost a complete year sometimes even though i am now enroled in another course sooo it sucks. so glad you talked about this :) love you
In my last year of school I was unavoidably out of the country for my final exams, and I had to make the decision to not do the exams and take care of my mental health instead. I was so stressed about being overseas and completing my exams at the same time, and I felt so ashamed that I didn't push myself to do it. Now, three years later, I regret absolutely nothing. The shame has faded with time, and I'm so glad I took care of my mental health rather than pushing myself to do exams just because I wanted to be like everyone else.
I found you two days ago, and I am in the process of watching everything you uploaded! Love your vibe, your thoughts and your recommendations. Absolutely over the moon to see that you’re vegan as well :) x
Definitely felt you when you were talking about your feelings with uni, it’s really hard thinking like that but I’m proud of you for doing all that you are able too. The fact you try everyday is amazing a lot of people wouldn’t ❤️
Such a calming video to watch during a busy Sunday, hope you have a great day!
That seriously means so much to me, thank you dear
hi! i don’t know if you’ve done one of these but i would loveee a video about how you annotate your books and the supplies you use! i’ve been trying to annotate my books more
Honestly this hit home haaaard! I had to drop out of my dream uni 4 yrs ago because my kidney failed and I had to go on dialysis, with all the symptoms i was just not capable of continuing the work. I tried going back after a year and had to drop out again because i was just in denial and refused to put my health first until it got to crisis point.
Last academic year I started at the open university (an online uni here in the UK) and even though I had a kidney transplant last year, i still suffer with fatigue and complete imposter syndrome as Im studying something completely different to before and exam season is fast approaching and I just hooooope i make it through!
next academic year (in october) im only going to take one module instead of two because goddamn i need a break and a holiday and just enjoy getting my life back again.
love you and your vids completely!
As a neurologist and reader, I have treated post concussion syndrome so I understand what you are experiencing. I’m also sure that the frustration that you feel seems like it is life changing. It is. But, time will show you the importance of taking the time to heal now so that you can resume your full life later. I hope you are getting treatment and medical support that will help. Yoga and diet and walks in nature are terrific. Opportunities like higher education will be there in the future. Life is a marathon not a sprint. Give yourself permission to have a break. Peace and love 💕
you're a beautiful soul and I'm sending you all my love 🖤🌻
You are sending such an important message to all of us, showing that you can find a way to work on the things you are passionate about even though you are going through certain challenges. Very inspiring and powerful. One of my favourite quotes would sum it up: ''If you are going through hell, keep going.'' W. Churchill
Sending you lots of love and warm hugs!
You made my day better by uploading this... Thanks a bunch Emma💛
You are amazing💗 You have no idea how much light you bring to our lives💗💗💗💗 Your videos bring so much joy and peace💗💗💗 you are a true inspiration My Dear🤗😘
I had to read a sample of Music of the Night because your critique made me laugh. You're right: she uses commas where there should be periods or where commas aren't needed at all.
Take it easy Emma. I can totally relate to what your saying. Sometimes I can't work because of my illness. I can't read sometimes because my muscle pain and my neck and is my full time hobbie so I'm also listening to audiobooks and buy the physicall ones too. I know you can do it, just be patience, give yourself all the time you need and all be worth it !!! Also, thank you for keep sharing your experiences. You have no idea how much you inspired me to keep fighting!!💪💪🤗🤗 Hugs from Argentina!!!
It must be hard to have these thoughts and feelings. But, as with all things, these too will pass. Give it time. And just continue to do the things that make you feel happy.
I had a vision problem last year from screen time and lots of reading. I am also in literature, Portuguese literature. I feel you! Sending love ^^
I ordered the Phantom of the Opera after hearing how much you loved it. It's coming tomorrow! So excited!
i admire you so much emmie! a few years ago i took a single college course one semester because it’s all i could do at the time. i stuck to it but i really regret not taking the time i needed. know that everything will be okay and please continue taking care of yourself! 💝
I had to stop uni for a year because of my depression & anxiety and it was so hard to deal with, especially because I felt like all my friends were carrying on without me & I was falling behind. I managed to finish my degree eventually and I'm back in education for my masters now. It honestly will get better, it might just take some time to get there
Ahhh that self-worth talk hits home. I still struggle with that sometimes but I'm slowly learning not to base my self worth on my academic success and discipline (bc a lot of success comes from discipline and I struggle with that). It's a process. Sometimes it helps knowing that I know people who are really successful in life and academically but are just in my opinion bad people and I wouldn't want to be like them and that I know many people I respect and value who don't have academic titles and that helps a bit sometimes. And to look at all the things that I love doing and that I'm interested in. At in the end it won't really matter all that much. I hope you manage to slowly get past those bad feelings. Hugs.
Looking back through your “old” videos
You are an amazing person!❤️🌺
I have a Kindle Voyage and an Onyx Boox Nova 2. I listen to audiobooks and read on the E-Readers as well. Both are great. Sorry to hear that you had a head injury. Hope that you are doing well. You seem friendly and cozy. I am near to retirement age and a piano player and avid reader. I have read that reading, meditation, and playing the piano are very good for our brain's healing and prevention of aging for us old codgers. Love your Vlog. Take care.
I get the academic shame, I definitely had to get over the fact that I couldn’t graduate. It’s hard. Sending you love ❤️
I can't understand why people think audiobooks don't have value? They do. When you're so stressed or tired or busy to read the book phisically you still can be in need to continuing that book. At night, when you're in bed, you can just listen it till you sleep. When you're reading it while you're also listening, you can actually hear different voices. Probably they can understand it when they do it.
i love one hundred years of solitude !!!
Sending love your way Emma! I hope things look up for you soon 💛
feel you on the apartment trouble. The place I’ve just moved out of had pigeons nesting in the attic (I love pigeons. Just not as neighbours), a leaking toilet, only sporadic hot water, and a downstairs neighbour’s extractor fan positioned directly below my bed. Sleep was difficult to come by. Wishing you the best with it, Emma!!
Edit - (also, much love to you re: the troubles with school, mental health etc. you open up about later in the video. You seem like a great person, Emma, so I think things will turn out.. great!)
I'm so sorry you've been feeling so bad about not being able to complete your class. I had the same feeling last year--I was in a vet tech program and had to stop in the middle of the first round of clinical externship because I was so overwhelmed and anxious. I'm really lucky I already work as a vet assistant, but between my actual work and all the skills I had to complete and write about, I just couldn't do it. I completely understand having to quit something because of one's health. I'm sorry you had to do that but just keep reminding yourself you did it to take care of yourself and ultimately that's what matters
Oh my.. I totally get your point. I used to torture myself just like you do, thinking I am worthless just because I didn't succeed in this or that, but life is so unpredictable and this is the exact place to look for its beauty. Honestly, you shouldn't feel bad. Just think that you are still educating yourself, still being productive and (trust the elder) you will realize this as the time passes by. Right now you have the amazing opportunity to work on yourself by yourself. Typical education will not provide you with an "out of the box" way of thinking which will definitely help you in the future, especially if you are planning to follow an academic career, and more importantly in the process of making better life choices. Trust me, everything will make sense one day...! Stay strong Emma! Wish you the best!
totally get the topic about uni and self-worth! I'm struggling so much to keep up with my literature degree that I'm thinking about dropping out and do something else (that is on my "low" intelligence level). I feel that I'm no good at studying and that makes me feel completely useless and ashamed. I'm stuck in a moment of my degree and it sucks. It seems like everyone else around me is getting things acomplished and being succesful excepto for me.
Omgosh, I love how
You talk to your dog just as if you are talking to a human friend! I do the same with my little dog. Your videos are great, so I’m a new subscribers!
My dog is exactly like that... she won’t even let us leaving the apartment, not even taking the trash out for a minute.. she starts barking sooo loudly.. we might go back to the office to work soon and I seriously dk what to do with her 🤦♀️ YAy, legendborn is on my TBR as well! 🙂
thank you for this video :) your videos always makes me happy! take care everybody
I just wanna say, I'm so proud of you emmie 💗
all of you are so kind, thank you for such happy tears today, that means the whole world
I also had to drop out for a year in 2019 because of health issues and it was the best decision I could’ve made. Sometimes I do feel bad cause I won’t graduate in time, but I just had to accept that my health comes first and that it matters. So I hope you do get to feel better about your decision for uni as well. Sending lots of love 💕
You're such an inspiration♡
Omg, I can't believe people would still say that! First of all, I love the fact that you own physical copies of books and also enjoy listening to audiobooks, cause I do the same. But just a remark for ones who think that listening to audiobooks doesn't require having a physical copy of the book, I'm gonna stop them right there and say that: They've ABSOLUTELY got all wrong! Cause part of the pleasure you feel while reading the text itself is also hearing, or listening to it being narrated Especially by a good narrtor, be it on audible or any other app, because the mere ability of the narrator to use his voice to paint a scene or create an atmosphere where you the story becomes real and enjoy even more, is pure joy by itself. And for the ones who don't know how that feels, they have still yet to learn!
I completely understand were you’re coming from with the education as self worth. Ive always been a pretty good student I’m currently in my forth year as a history major. But this online class thing its just so frustrating to me. I live in the middle of the mountains in Puerto Rico and my internet is terrible and I’m not the best when it comes to technology. Most of the time I can barely understand what my professors are saying. They expect us to do the same amount of work and the same quality of work when all the archives and libraries are closed. They expect us to do all of our research online, but for some of us it can be so draining when you have to wait 30 minutes for a document or pdf to download just to find out that it wont really help with the investigation and you have to repeat the process. My grades have definitely been affected because of this situation. The first semester I just felt terrible about myself, but now I’m more aware that things that are making my studies complicated are just out of my control at the moment and I’m learning to be at peace with it.
I’ve gotten into audio books on Libby (which I didn’t know was a thing - thanks for helping me discover free audio books through my local library!) through your channel. It helps me get through more reading because I can listen while I drive as well as while I’m doing things like designing my bullet journal pages!
So sorry things didn’t work out with school this semester. Been there. I was always an A student and then when my mental health got bad I had to drop out of my first semester of grad school. I tried again somewhere else the following fall and had to drop down to a part-time load but finished. Then had to do some follow-up undergrad work and went through the same thing again. It’s a horrible feeling because rationally you understand what’s going on and would be empathetic if it was a friend or peer going through the same thing but it’s so difficult to lend that same kindness to ourselves. My best advice, if you are considering going back in the fall, is take courses you’ve started if they’re offered or, if you have a course that you want to take and it’s been offered before, reach out to the prof in the summer, explain the situation, and see if the syllabus will be the same or similar so you can read ahead and then only re-read/write while the semester is in progress. I got through all of my major novels for the year the one summer and I cannot emphasize how much easier the rest of the year was. Even just having the assurance that you’ve encountered the text before helps things 12/10. Also try to have a more thorough meeting with accessibility services. It’s hard to see how difficult and ableist doing an English degree is while you’re in the thick of it, and too easy to point blame on ourselves when we don’t meet the threshold.
I also found English grad classes a lot easier because there’s no exam, only a final 16-20 page paper, so you could see if you could get into some of those too!
Salutations, Emmie! I heard some expert advice on your dog situation a while back. From what I remember, the idea is to establish an interval of time for your pet to be alone each day (say, an hour) and if possible, increase the interval gradually until they’ve adapted to being home alone for a given time. I know it’s rough. I personally love all the needy boys and girls out there 🐶 🐱 and wish we never had to leave them. Good luck!
sending you so much love emmie, you're amazing
I'm living for that sheep pillow😢
i’m reading remote control now too!!! :) im so exited, i love nnedi
one of my fave books of the month so far!!
Idk if you ever realize this Emmie, but your videos are asmr for me, esp your vlogs
Same!
Literally same
I would love a second channel of asmr !
you're amazing, I love watching your videos! thank you Emma
Our dog cry and cry if my mon goes on her job for few hours. He bark at everyone and cry at front door until she comes at evening. So we start to feeding him some more so he sleeps through out the day. 🐣
The lesson I've learned in my so far 50 years is that we are always more forgiving of others than we are ourselves. We always told to 'Be Kind', and that should start with ourselves.
Sending you love💛 Hope your having a good day💛
Uhh, you should totally read the Binti trilogy (it's 3 novellas, so not very long at all) by Nnedi Okorafor. Science fiction meets the African soul; it's about a young girl who's going to university in space and it's a plea for tolerance, I absolutely loved it.
Also, really appreciated your honest chat. I have definitely struggled with attaching my self-worth to academics, and it's nice to hear such affirming words. Wish you all the best for the future
I finished watching this and I feel like I'm your best friend 🥺 have a great time, Emma! ❤
I have been really struggling to read physical books at the rate I used to for the past few years and your channel convinced me to give audiobooks a shot. What a game changer! Honestly the whole audiobooks versus "real reading" debate has always seemed a bit ableist to me. Does it really matter that much what medium you consume the book in.
Sending love and warmth your way, hope you're doing well these days❤️
Just wanna let you know that you're the one who inspired me into reading. I saw your vlog one time and have been your fan ever since. Thank you for another great video, Emma! ❤
I admire you so much
Two drops bothered me: A six credit course in The Calculus, and another six credit course in Physics. The problem was (I can say now with confidence) lack of attention in Junior and Senior High geometry, trigonometry, et al, which were for me just a series of easy answers arrived at without pencil and paper. After graduation Law seemed a better choice than Math (or History), though to be honest I think I may have burned out a little bit doing sums in my head.
I’ve only been subscribed for a few weeks now so I had no idea you were dealing with post-concussion syndrome, that’s so tough 😔 and it can definitely be difficult to be kind to yourself about taking a break from school even if you know that’s ultimately the best choice for your well-being. For what it’s worth I think it’s such an amazing opportunity that you’re able to work on RUclips full-time and get paid for it until you feel ready to continue with education. Life’s not a race, the school will be there when you’re ready to work on it without causing yourself unnecessary stress or harm! But yeah, it’s hard to free your sense of self-worth from something it’s been tied to for a long time. Please try to be kind to yourself, you’re doing amazing things 😌
I just love your vlogs!!!!