Stressed out about final year at college and family

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About 3 days ago, I started my final school year at uni. I have been in school for 4 1/2 years. This semester marks my fifth year in school. I am taking my senior research seminar for history (which entails a 15-page research paper). I also am taking several basic history courses. One of my history classes requires me to be at school by 8:40 AM. Since the bus system is not the greatest in my area, it takes me almost 1 hour 15 minutes to get to school. In the afternoon it takes 1 hour 40 minutes to get home. This is not to say I am complaining about my bus ride home, as I have been riding that route for over 2 years now.

Anyways, I am even more stressed out now because both sisters are in school. One of them got pregnant about 1 year 9 months ago and now has a 13 month old. She is attending school now to become a nurse. The other sister has both work and school. Since everyone else is busy, it is up to my dad (a single father at 72 years old) to babysit my sister's baby by himself for more than 8-9 hours per day. His health is steady, but could change at any moment. On top of pre-existing anxiety issues, I am so completely worried about his health and my ability to finish school that it is all I can think about most of the day.

It hasn't helped that the weather has been hot lately as well and I haven't been eating, drinking as much water, or sleeping as much as I should. I am feeling very stressed about the future. I recently got a work-study job, but quit about 2 days into the semester due to stress over everything. I was planning on taking an anime class which was pretty interesting, but my anxiety over my dad caused me to drop the class and enroll in an Islamic history course instead. I have so much reading to do at night when I get home, but due to my wish to help my tired dad and homework-ridden sister, I watch the baby for a while. I am just at my wits end and feeling very exhausted and depressed about the future. I am worried about losing my dad during the middle of the semester and having to drop out. I have even entertained notions of dropping out and just getting a job.

I need advice.

Sounds like you really care about your family.

I wouldn't drop out of school tho, you've put that much time into it and from what i've heard its much harder to get enrolled again once you drop out. I might be an example of that myself.

As someone who had their grandmother deal with major health problems this year who was in her 70's.. (She passed away over a month ago and was the closest family I had) I get where you're coming from worrying about your dad's health.

Is it possible your sister can get a baby sitter or something to lighten the load for the family?

If you don't take good care of yourself, how can you take care of anything or anyone else? I cannot stress how important it is for you to drink plenty of water and eat, healthy food, and getting 8+ hours of sleep. It can help out a lot with stress. If you are not nourished and at your best, how can you do your best?

Couldn't you take another semester to lighten the course load? There is nothing wrong with that. Possibly, you can enroll part time and cite family reasons.