Want to know what it’s like to be a student at Vanderbilt University? Follow me around on a typical day here.
I’d like to say I wake up at 7 am and start my day off productively, but that’s most likely not the case. I aim for 9— sometimes it’s 8:30 and sometimes it’s 9:30. With online classes, it’s easy to hit that snooze button multiple times (yes, I have slept through class before). I usually make myself a nice warm cup of coffee or tea and sip on it as I attend my first class, chemistry.
After class, I finally get ready for the day. I put on my contacts, wash my face, and get dressed. I then walk through campus and usually find myself doing homework in one of my favorite study spots: Buttrick Hall or the baseball glove lounge in the student center. I take it slow in the mornings, so I usually take this time to check emails or complete assignments that I didn’t finish the night before.
Next, it’s lunchtime! You’ll most likely find me in line at Rand getting a Randwich (only the best sandwiches in town) and a side salad. If I’m busy, I’ll continue doing work as I eat, or I’ll take this time to take a break and chat with a friend.
I go to my next class, Spanish, in person, which gives my routine a sense of normalcy in this period of uncertainty. After an hour of analyzing Hispanic literature, class is over and it’s time to do more work! I try to give myself a short break to get a smoothie and a snack from our dining hall for a quick afternoon energy boost.
Again, you’ll most likely find me in Buttrick hall or the baseball lounge. If it’s nice out, you can also find me sitting at the tables outside of Buttrick or on a picnic blanket on Alumni Lawn.
Before you know it, it’s dinnertime. I always check NetNutrition to browse my dinner options for the day. If nothing sounds appetizing, we also have great options nearby like Satay, Poke Bros, and Frutta Bowls, which are all on the Commodore Card! And, I usually like to take a longer dinner break to relax and recap my day with my friends.
Lastly, I go back to my room and go to any club meetings I have for the day. And then, I work, work, work! Occasionally, I’ll have a mental breakdown and so I go knocking on my friend’s door to cry my problems away. Remember: if your mind is unhealthy, everything else is unhealthy! Take the time to breathe, talk to others, and do any self care routines you need. When I’m feeling down, I like to meditate (try Headspace!), journal, or make a new playlist. Anything creative helps wind me down.
After a long day, I shower and get ready for bed. This is either at 11 PM or 2 AM… there is no in between. My head hits the pillow and I am asleep in seconds.