Iām a 21-year-old from a lower-middle-class family, and ever since I finished my intermediate studies from a College (Pakistan) in 2023, Iāve carried a dream in my heart: to walk the leafy quad of a reputable university, to laugh with new friends in the cafeteria, to stay up late talking about lifeāand to build a future on my own terms. This wasnāt just my dream; it was my momās too. I carry her hopes with me every time I sit down to study.
But life had other plans. In 2023, when fees and expenses loomed larger than our savings, my family couldnāt afford to send me on that path. So I put my dream on hold and took a job instead. I started at āØ35,000 per monthāand over the last year, through long nights and early mornings, Iāve fought my way up to āØ60,000. I work 8 PMā5 AM, head straight to the gym at 6 AM to clear my head, grab a quick bite, and try to catch 2ā3 hours of sleep before doing it all again.
Now, at last, I feel ready to leapāand I want to enroll full-time. But the schedule Iām looking at scares me:
Work: 8 PMā5 AM, five nights a week
Gym: 6 AMā7 AM, for my physical and mental health
University: 8 PMā2 AM lectures, 30ā40 km from home, four days a week
Sleep: Only about 2ā3 hours a day
Commitment: This marathon would run for the next four years
I know the risks all too well: no safety net if I lose my job, the constant strain on my body and mind, the loneliness that comes with an upside-down schedule. And yet, every time I imagine my momās proud smile at my convocation, or the sense of belonging Iād feel on campus, I know I have to try.
My questions for you:
Sustainability: Can a nightly grind, early-morning workouts, and full-time studies truly work over four yearsāwithout burning out?
Strategies: What practical tips can help me juggle time, health, and finances? Are there ways to carve out rest, build an emergency fund, or streamline my commute?
Shared Journeys: Has anyone else lived this upside-down lifeānights at work and days in class? How did you keep going, and what would you change if you could?
I pour these words out with hopeāand with fear. But more than anything, I carry determination: to honor my momās dreams, to prove to myself that I am capable of more, and to finally step into the world of campus life Iāve always imagined. Any advice, shared stories, or even just a few words of encouragement would mean the world to me. Thank you for listening.
The question feels lost on the destination for a path. If you can, describe the course you want to take at that reputed university with leafy lawns. What would you like to do with that education?
Did the fees suddenly explode in 2023 and surprise you? Had you not been looking up the fees prior?
This path youāve chosen and are seeking validation looks unrealistic at best despite breaks, weekends, etc dedicated to catching up with sleep. The question, as of this writing, is silent on weekends and breaks. Let alone sustainability.
1 hour of gym per day will provide zero mental health benefits when coupled with how little sleep youāre planning to have.
Do NOT, I repeat NOT do this. Someone very close to me did something similar and got irreversible brain damage that still shows itself years later in the form of epilepsy. Our brains are not made for that little sleep over long periods of time.
Four years of only 2-3 hours of sleep a night doesnāt sound sustainable. Is that 30-40k distance something you have to drive? If so, I think youāre gonna fall asleep at the wheel eventually.
