Being a senior in college is a stressful time for anyone. You are focused on graduating, passing your classes, and figuring out what you want to do with a degree, When you're in a STEM-focused major, that stress multiplies. And when your true passion is writing, you find a way to make it work while maintaining those good grades.

I have wanted to be an author since I was 12. I wrote everything that popped in my head, but never actually thought I could write and publish a book. I've changed my major 5 times now and hope to graduate within the next year or two. I went from Graphic Design to Web Design to Interactive Media to Computer Science and just changed to Applied Mathematics last week. However, I still feel that need to write.

I wrote my first book in 2 years, starting when I was a sophomore in college. After publishing it, I had an 'oh crap' moment when I realized I still had to finish the rest of the series.

So, now that school is starting to get busier and more focused, people keep asking me how I continue writing while in school.

To answer their question would take a lot of explaining. I go to my classes, get my homework and labs done as soon as I can so I am able to write for the rest of the week. I even write during the 30-minute breaks between my classes.

Is it just more stress on top of the stress of school? I would have to say no. I am self-published, so I can manage the time I want the next book to come out, and writing is my form of escapism. I can escape to my own world and hang out with my favorite characters as I write.

I have planned my school schedule to work around my writing and know that even when I get a job, I will never stop writing. I still dream of becoming a full-time author, and to do that I must continue writing and publishing my books.

I will never allow people to tell me that I should quit writing, or that my dream will never come true. I have learned that if you dream hard enough and are willing to put in the work, you can achieve your goals and accomplish your dreams. So, my advice to aspiring authors is to follow your heart and write.