By: Johnna Thatch
GREENSBORO, N.C. – College students handle a lot of responsibilities consisting of but not limited to school, work, sports, or any other extra activities. Handling those responsibilities may seem to burden others, there are students able to handle this on a daily basis and succeed.
According to the article, Balancing Between College, Work, and Personal Life, this balance may be difficult to achieve because students have a tough time transitioning from a structured environment where everything is planned for them.
Two students were interviewed for this article. Zyere Baker, who is a freshman, majoring in sports medicine, said, “I am 20 years old taking 15 credit hours as a full-time student. I manage my time by planning ahead to do things and turning assignments in before the due date.”
He continued, “I also work full-time which is between 29-40 hours a week. It can get to be a little too much at times, but once you get into your groove it’s really nothing to it. I believe in solutions, no excuses. I usually have one full day of free time, and other days I have 2-3 hours of free time max. For the most part school and work consume my life now. I started an internship in January, and I plan to reduce my hours at work to focus on the internship.”
The second interviewee, currently a sophomore, majoring in animal science, is Khairy Jenkins. He shared, “I am 18 years old, now taking 17 credit hours. I do not work but I am on the band. I have slim to none when it comes to free time. Whenever I am able to get free time, I have to use my time wisely. Knowing how to manage my time helps me out a lot, so during my free time I like to work on myself. Whenever I do try doing something, there’s never anything to do but band.”
Attending college can certainly be a balancing act for students. Although it is challenging for those who work and have other extracurricular activities in which they participate, it is possible to be successful in making it all happen. Time management is key; this involves prioritizing tasks and maximizing every hour of the day to ensure that it all gets done in a timely manner. Lastly, the aforementioned article also suggests that students replenish their energy to avoid stress. This can be done by a pleasurable activity such as reading, watching television, or talking to a friend. Whatever, one decides the most important thing is to destress before burnout occurs.
Key words: College, Student, Work, Free, Time
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