To The Master Juggler:
I applaud you. I admire you. I am you.
Whether you are the freshman signing up for every single club at the activities fair or the senior settling into leadership roles in their tried and true organizations, I have been in your shoes.
“Join us!” They said. “It’ll be fun-and it’ll look great on your resume!” They said.
They weren’t lying. Joining a club is a great way to meet new people and experience great opportunities! They just didn’t mention the late nights or early mornings dedicated to finishing a project because you were working on homework or vice versa.
As cliché as it sounds, you will find (or create) an organization where you feel you can be your true self. Whether that is Future Business Leaders of America or Club Soccer, you will love associating yourself with that group of people and you will want to contribute as much as possible. As much as you want to, you cannot designate all of your time to that one club. In order to be a part of a student organization, you need to be a student. You need to attend your classes and turn in your assignments on time. Then, you might want to pick up a job so you can go out to eat with fellow club members or pay dues for your fraternity/sorority. You came to college to get a degree, but now all of these commitments are stacking up — how can you accomplish it all?
If your answer is "a pot of coffee," you are partially correct.
Here are some tips that I have picked up during my many years of experience:
- Use Google Calendar!!!! You can color code your meetings for classes, clubs, and even for friends! Then you can download the app on your phone and set reminders so you won’t ever be late again! (Or maybe late less often..)
- Carry snacks in your backpack/purse at all times. While you are running around all day, it’s easy to forget to eat lunch or dinner. Find a granola bar or prepackaged snack you like and try to buy it in bulk. (I’ve recently purchased microwaveable bowls of mac and cheese. You just add water, heat it in the microwave, add cheese and voila! Instant meal!)
- Carry a reusable water bottle. Stay hydrated! Dehydration sneaks up on you and makes you 100x more tired than you might already be. If you are active all day, you don’t want to suddenly become dizzy. Ice water could also help you stay alert in class!
- Ask for help when you need it. Talk to your club members if you feel overwhelmed or even call your family or best friend. Sometimes just hearing a familiar voice will help calm you down.
And finally,
- Take a deep breath! You are doing great! Just tackle each day one Google alert at a time. Good luck this semester :)
