As a full time, first generation student I am not one to have the best time management skills. It is quite literally my first time experiencing a life full of collegiate academic responsibilities with little to no guidance, even more so as someone working 8 hour shifts for 5 days a week. I have found that finding the right balance of work and school is nearly impossible, especially considering the demands of my social life. At this point, I am ready to petition for longer days, as 24 hours is simply not cutting it for me anymore.
How do you decide what to prioritize? School and the potential success in a looming future that a degree is meant to provide in a day and age where nothing is certain? Work and the cost of living at an all time high? Or your own well-being and a healthy relationship with your community of friends and family? These questions plague my mind every night that I lay in bed, exhausted from such a hectic day, wondering if this is what I am meant to do.
Of course, I can expect to have a pessimistic attitude when my life seems to be all work and no play, but when I actually get a chance to take a step back and pause – I can reflect and appreciate the little things one moment at a time. Because it really truly is the little things that matter. In a world where everything is BIG and BOLD, and you are expected to conform to these big and bold standards, you have to remember that the world may be big but we as individuals are just small parts that make up the big. It is important to remember that we can only do as much as we can, one person cannot be expected to make the world go round, that is what community is for. It takes time and effort to accomplish anything, so slow down and rely on your own community to support you and your big dreams.
What my hectic day to day schedule has taught me is that balance cannot be achieved when you don’t take moments to give yourself peace and disconnect from your responsibilities to focus on taking care of yourself first and foremost. After all, none of your responsibilities will be taken care of if you yourself are not.