Going to college didn’t mean just an opportunity to obtain an advanced education, but also an opportunity to find myself through the thousands of other opportunities my campus and local community provided me. At Cornell College in Iowa, one of few schools in the United States that is on the block plan, many students find themselves juggling class and what seems to be a million other activities. As one of those students who finds herself juggling three work study jobs, multiple student activities and school, sometimes I truly look back at previous months or even days and wonder how I've survived so far.

Fortunately, as I am going into my junior year of college I have some tips for you!

1. If you are going to be overly involved, make sure you are passionate about what you are doing

Coming into your first year in college or even as an upperclassmen, it can be extremely easy to join a club or organization because you heard a lot about it on campus or the idea of joining seems really appealing. My advice to you is providing organizations you think you might be interested in your contact information so that you can hear more about them before you pick up and join. This way, you can make sure you are truly committed to that organization.

2. Prioritize your commitments and communicate with others

Being involved can be motivating and exciting, but you can also find yourself running around like a chicken with its head cutoff if you don’t properly prioritize your commitments. You may find yourself stuck in the realization that you have overcommitted your time. This is the point that you have spread yourself too thin. In order to prevent this or fix it you have to figure out what commitments you want to spend the most time on and what you are willing to either cut loose or minimize in time. By doing this, you are then able to communicate with either your boss, other members in an organization or to those who may look up to you in organizations for guidance.

3. Find time for yourself

By time for yourself I don’t just mean the time you take to walk across campus or getting ready in the morning or night. By finding time for yourself, I mean taking time out of your schedule to be able to reflect on your day and to find some peace within the stress you are probably feeling.

4. Remember to live like a college student and don’t get caught up in your exhausting schedule

Surround yourself with friends and those you enjoy being around. Don’t let your thousands of meetings let you forget to have fun on your campus or in your communities. Reach out and find fun events to go to or even make plans for a movie night with some of your closest buds!

Make sure that balancing your busy lifestyle means making the most out of your time in college while also making sure your sanity is still composed.