Author: soccer 13

Time management is a skill easily learned but unique to everyone. I learned time management through playing sports in high school. Each Sunday I would look at the events and assignments that I had to complete or go to. I would plan out each day of the week and divide up my time to get everything done. I still use this technique in college. On Sundays I look at what classes I have to go to, assignments due, parts of assignments I need to complete, and other things I have to do like meal prep, work, and socialize. I then look at the times each day I have to complete work and schedule what days I work on what. I divide my days up into work time and free time. During my work time, I will be either in class or working on school work. During my free time, I will be working out, eating, sleeping, or doing chores. Planning out every day and things out by hours may seem stressful, but for me it helps me manage my time effectively so I have time for classes, assignments, self-care, and a social life.

Another effective method I know works, because my mom uses it, is a planar. My mom is a teacher and gets a new planner at the beginning of each school year. She will put in important dates, including no school days, holidays, teacher required days, etc. As a family we also use a planner/calendar app to manage our time. Whenever one of our family members has an event on a certain day, we put it in the calendar and choose the people involved, times, location, and any notes. This app is very helpful and effective in keeping track of when we have doctor or dentist appointments and where our family members are or have to be at certain times. I really like using this app and my time management schedule to keep track of events happening in the future and planning out my week so I complete all assignments, attend all classes, and have time for self-care

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Source: https://www.pinterest.com/pin/537828380503009615/  

There are both pros and cons to being a commuter student. One of the cons that I face is the difficulty of making friends. It is hard to make friends outside of class when I don’t spend all my time on campus. I also don’t have the benefit of having a roommate whom I can be friends with. It feels pretty lonely without making any new friends in college. It can also be hard to participate in on campus activities being a commuter. Being a commuter, it is hard to know all the opportunities that are available on campus. It is hard to be informed about on campus activities when I don’t live on campus and can’t hear about it from other people in dorms. Another disadvantage of being a commuter is planning out when I have to leave for classes. I have to make sure I leave early enough to get to class on time, and come winter, this could be problematic. With the usual heavy snowfall we get in Wisconsin, I may miss classes because it isn’t safe to drive. This is a major downfall because I’m paying for these classes myself and need to attend each class to continue working and progressing through college. 

Even though making friends and participating in on campus activities has been difficult as a commuter there are also several benefits. One of the major benefits to being a commuter student is saving on room and board. I am saving thousands of dollars by living at home and packing food instead of having a meal plan. I do have to pay for my car and gas but that is way cheaper than paying for living expenses on campus. Another benefit of being a commuter is peace and quiet. At home I am able to study or do school work without interruptions or many distractions like I would having a roommate and living in the dorms. I’m not big on party’s and big social events, so it’s nice for me to be able to come home and relax in a quieter environment. The best benefit of living at home is that I get my own room, share a bathroom with my sister, and my dog. I also love sleeping in the comfort of my own bed. There is nothing like sleeping in your own warm, clean, and comfy bed. All in all, for me, the pros of being a commuter student outweigh the cons.

Source: https://therapidian.org/7-lessons-commuting-college-home 

The weeks leading up to starting college were extremely stressful. I was worried about what my professors would be like, taking notes, homework, studying, and finding time to spend with friends and family. I was expecting very little free time and that classes would be demanding and require a lot of outside work. High school teachers explained to us that college is difficult, time consuming, and stressful. But when I started college, I was shocked by what college is really like.

The first week of college was very relaxed. The first week of classes were just introductions to the class and talking about what will all happen throughout the semester within the class. There weren’t assignments or any homework to do. I was surprised by how relieved I felt and the lack of stress because there wasn’t an overwhelming amount of work to do. I was also extremely worried about being able to take notes from lectures because I tend to miss things when people talk fast. But, contrary to popular belief, the majority of professors give lectures along with PowerPoint presentations. Surprisingly, I also have an abundance of free time because I have good time management skills and work on assignments as soon as they become available. Despite the initial shock of what I thought college was going to be like, I have been thriving in the reality of college life.