The Balancing Act

Tuesday

February 19, 2013

9:22pm

            I’m sitting in a co-workers living room with a few friends and Florida/Missouri basketball game is on in the background. While some are fully immersed in the semi-competitive basketball game, the rest are preparing for next week’s midterm exams. International Trade Policy, Chemistry and The Meat We Eat: These are the topics discussed amongst us students. Occasionally, one of us will look up from our textbook and check the score of the game; or, stop to calculate the grade necessary to earn an A in the course. Just a few days ago, we were all lucky enough to share our Valentine’s Day together, at work: Happy Holidays.

As a young and slowly-maturing adult, I’ve learned that it’s not easy giving up holidays - It’s a precious luxury I’ve always been granted (Thanks Mom and Dad!). But, as a self-sustaining student providing for myself, I have quickly realized that the real world does not always allow the luxury of holidays. It’s not easy learning how to balance a 20-40 hour work week with a full 12-15 credit semester but, with enough will power (and effective time management skills) this “hurdle” can be overcome.

For me, it took several “hard lessons” to learn how balance work, active participation in multiple clubs, job interviews, applying for internships, researching grad school programs, practicing and performing with my band, a small amount of social-life and Oh Yeah! my 12 credit semester of senior-level capstone courses. After numerous “hard lessons”, I’ve picked up a few helpful tips:

-Study effectively!

            When studying, don’t just sit at a desk with energy drinks and your text book open for 10 hours straight- It doesn’t work! Make sure you learn to take food/exercise breaks, switch topics every few hours, reference your textbook, lecture notes and classmates, and most importantly –DO NOT PROCRASTINATE!!!!!

-Buy an outrageously large planner or wall calendar!

With some form of organizational device, you can physically see when and where you are obligated to be somewhere. This helps immensely on those days where you have class from 10:40am-11:35am, a meeting from 11:50am-12:35pm, a phone interview at 12:45pm, class again from 1:55pm-2:45pm, work from 4pm-10pm and then a group project session from 11pm-?. If your planner goes down to the quarter hours, that’s OK!

-Value your family and friends

            Your family and friends are there to keep you grounded. They constantly remind you that even though you have to calculate how many hours of sleep you get each week, you’re doing it as a means to an end. They are there to make you laugh when you’re sad, smile when you’re stressed and above all else, to celebrate at the end of every grueling semester conquered. 

-Value your own personal time (It will keep you sane)

This is a concept I did not fully grasp when I first started college. I assumed I was entitled to two hours of video games, a full workout, 3 square meals and as much guitar time as I could ask for every day of the week. Little did I know - that’s far from reality. I now realize the time I have to spend alone, working on myself, is very limited and cherished. I value it so much that I now schedule time to watch a movie, play guitar, or have a dinner with my friends. It’s the only way to keep myself remotely sane.

Fast Forward 12 hours….

It’s now 8:39am on Wednesday morning. I didn’t arrive to the computer lab until 8am today – a little later than I planned. Luckily, I was able to persuade my boss into letting me have the evening off work to prepare for my exam tomorrow. At least now I will have the whole night to brush up on any details I’ve over looked. Tomorrow, my exam isn’t until 1:55pm but, I have to be on campus at 9am to help set-up for an CALS Ambassador event. If I wake up at 7am I should have enough time to eat breakfast, pack my lunch and travel to my event. Oh Yeah! I have to work at 5pm tomorrow. I need to remember to pack an extra sandwich to eat.

            “Siri- set a reminder for tomorrow at 7:30am to pack an extra-large lunch”.

As I said earlier, it isn’t easy learning to balance school, work and extra-curricular activities. But, with proper planning, it is a very feasible task to overcome.

As you learn to effectively juggle all of these tasks, you realize there is nothing more rewarding than doing so. You learn to truly appreciate the quality time you have with your friends and family; you learn how good it feels to earn a high-mark on an exam you took the time to prepare for; you learn the joy of hosting an event that your club has been planning all semester; and more important than any other lesson, you learn value of work hard.

My name is Bernie Green and I am a proud, self-sustaining student-worker. I hope this blog can give a slight taste of how difficult it is balance a full-time school load, a near full-time work week, active participation in multiple organizations and a local band, and maintaining some mutated form of a social-life. Above all of that, I hope this blog can convey just how gratifying it is to balance this life-style knowing that everything you’re doing is working towards a final goal. I whole-hearted embrace this life-style and love every moment of it.

Now that it’s already 9:30am, I have to go to the library to read over my notes before my 10:40am class. I must make sure I’m prepared for both of next week’s exams, that way I won’t feel guilty about going home over spring break holiday for 4 days. For everyone that has walked in my shoes, congratulations – you made it - and for anyone who is afraid to do it, don’t be. It’s an exhilarating experience that pays back more than you realize when doing it.

-Bernie Green 

Bernie Green
Class: Senior
Hometown: Naples, Fl
Major: Food and Resource Economics
Specialization: International Food and Resource Economics
Minor: International Development and Humanitarian Assistance
Involvement: Ag. Econ Club Vice President of Member Relations
Hobbies: Cooking, Reading, Multi-instrumentalist; Member of "Project Chili" a Red Hot Chili Pepper tribute band
Post-Graduation: I hope to enter graduate school, obtaining a Master's Degree in International Development Economics, and then I hope to see the world!