The college experience: Do what matters to you

By: Helena Kottas, Assistant Features Editor

As I head into my senior year, one of the biggest lessons I have had to learn is how to balance life as a student. Adjusting to college as a whole can be overwhelming, but actually existing successfully is a separate challenge. Once you add studying, clubs and sleep into the mix, time seems to have slipped away. College is more than just passing your classes, but learning how to be independent and balancing what matters most to you. 

Each student on this campus has to balance schoolwork with something else; most being clubs, work or sports. Even if someone is not involved in those, self-care, friendship and interests are another part of life outside of the classroom. The easiest way to do this is by planning. It sounds simple, but it is necessary to balance school. This can be as complex or as simple as you like. You just need to find a combination of looking ahead, blocking out times for specific activities and finding time for yourself. 

Something else to consider is also knowing when to say no. It is important not to bite off more than you can chew so that our true interests do not get pushed aside. The last thing you want is to be burnt out. Another part of this adjustment is learning how to ask for help. Bouncing ideas off of friends can be helpful, but the resources at school are great too. The Counseling Center is a great place to head if you are unsure of where to begin. 

You must take the time to look inward and see what truly matters to you. While it is important to keep grades up, it is important not to let academics be your entire identity. Take the time to see what you most enjoy or feel the most fulfilled from outside of school. Keeping up with your hobbies is just as important, if not more important, than education because our experiences teach us so much as well. Alongside this, self-care, like adequate sleep, exercise and healthy eating, is imperative. If we lack this, everything else, including school and life outside of the classroom, will suffer. 

This sounds easier than it is. As a senior, I am still learning this and will continue to figure this out as my day-to-day life changes again soon after graduation. Being flexible, but staying true to yourself, is the key to balancing life as a student.