I came into my Sophmore year at Vassar with a plethora of new ideas and responsibilities...with accompanying insecurities to match. I arrived with my more thoughtfully packed suitcase, knowing I wanted to make changes, and knowing I had to do some things differently in order to keep up...I just didn't think I knew how. My freshman experience was a beautiful mess, one I wouldn't trade for the world. It was a race from one crisis to the next, breathless and confusing with lots of laughter and love built in the moments between. However, I knew that in order to fulfill new roles I had accrued, I could not maintain that same status quo along with my sanity. I knew I had to make some lifestyle changes, and accepting that and committing to them was one of the best decisions I've ever made. I still maintain the love, the spontaneity, and the excitement, just without the accompanying 2 a.m. freak outs and unnecessary last minute panics.

To begin with, I really had to sit down and think about what I wanted to get out of my Vassar education. With my current way of doing things, was I truly taking full advantage of all that was offered to me? With that answer a quick and resounding no, I knew I had to make conscious priorities about how I wanted to spend my time. This meant no more aimless days when I probably "could" be doing something but just didn't care to think about what. I learned to tune in better, and be fully present on campus.

Speaking of my presence on the campus, another thing I had to reckon with was my heightened visibility. Not only was I no longer a freshman, but as a student fellow, an intern, and an executive board member of student organizations that I'm passionate about, I had to mentally and physically "show up" at all times. I thought about what I represented, and what I wanted to represent. I am the kind of person that takes responsibility to heart, and feels a deep sense of satisfaction knowing I am seen as a responsible and present student, activist, and leader.

Once I looked at the reasons I would need to make a change, it was easier to make the concrete steps. These included getting serious about having a schedule. That meant buying a planner and sticking to using it. I was never an organized or type-A person, ask anyone who knows me, so that was a lot harder than it sounds. But I did it, and now that I'm in the habit I don't think I could ever go back.

Another thing I did was investing in HELLA sticky notes, onto which I then proceeded to write down every due date, every assignment, every deadline, and every appointment I had planned. Not only is it impossible to forget things when they're in your face, but it is so satisfying when you get to pull them down after a task is complete.

Speaking of completing tasks, it's so much easier to do that when you set regular sleep schedules. That meant, for me, waking up at the same time every day no matter if I had class or not. This also meant having a bedtime. Yes, I know, a lot of times your bedtimes depend on the work you have to do. In my case, however, having a decided time to say "no more work," no matter what, was motivating during the day so I wouldn't procrastinate.

Not procrastinating didn't just mean getting work done on time either, the idea of getting things done when I could as opposed to when I had to was something that manifested in a lot of different ways. For instance, after a class was over, I would immediately go to the library and print out my readings for the next class and arrange them in my binder accordingly. I didn't have to complete them right then, but having that done made completing the next step that much easier when I had the chance. A big part of not procrastinating is making it easier for yourself to complete your tasks, whether that means thinking ahead for available time or keeping your material on hand at all times.

All these things, while being helpful at avoiding stress, can leave you feeling a bit like a machine! That's why it's important to maintain time to be with your friends, to eat, and to catch up on your beloved Netflix. Unfortunately, my next tip for managing that probably won't make you feel any less machine-like. There is literally no hour on my calendar that is not committed to something...this includes designated social time, meal times, and alone time. I promise it isn't as weird as it sounds! It actually feels so good to have that written down, because it reminds me that human things have just as much importance in my life as the "official" ones. I keep appointments with my school, job, and myself.

Finally, this just requires a lot of trust. I had to trust my loved ones to support me in this change, and myself to follow through. It's so much work, this juggling act that is Sophmore year. The hardest part of getting into this kind of schedule was just telling myself that I was fully capable of it.

I am capable. I am smart and committed and passionate. I owe it to myself to see how far I can go. If that takes a few more feats of organization and scheduling than I'm used to, then so be it.