Deadlifts and Deadlines

In my sophomore year, I brought my car from Las Vegas to campus, and that was one of the best decisions I made. With my car, the possibilities were endless. Grocery trips and exploring the new state I had moved to were easier than ever before. It also opened up the opportunity to find work that wasn’t strictly on campus or within walking distance. In October, after applying to many different job listings, I finally got an interview and was hired on the spot!

Planet Fitness has since quickly become my new home, albeit competing against school for my time. However, I couldn’t be more grateful or happy to have a job, especially one that works so accommodatingly with my schedule. As a second-semester Junior, I have maintained my job through breaks and built a community with the people I work with. Not only do my coworkers support an open and safe environment, but the members of the gym also provide so much humor and kindness to my day. As someone who is a self-proclaimed introvert, it feels impossible not to be chatty or happy when speaking to anyone at work. 

With all this positivity, though, there is a slight struggle when it comes to a school/work life balance, at least for me. With my work schedule, I find myself at the beginning and end of every week stressing about the tasks that need to be completed. My poor time management skills can be overwhelming and feel hard to manage when I’m splitting myself between school, work, and friends. At the end of the day, it feels like I have done a million things and a million more things to do. 

All this to say that it is completely possible to create a balance that works well for you. I enjoy working, so it is worthwhile for me, and I enjoy the process of learning new things, so sitting in class comes naturally. The coursework is the struggle for me, but I have learned to set time aside in the days to sit and complete assignments. I plan for what the day will entail and prepare myself for the long day ahead. 

I have found that it is also important to schedule time for yourself as well to do things that you enjoy outside of your school or work personality. Finding a space to ground yourself in the things you enjoy helps ease the overwhelming feeling. For me, it’s hanging with my best friend and exploring the area or going for a drive. 

I have also started to make connections through work and mention the field I am studying, and I get a lot of advice to start networking. Arcadia has so much to offer in preparing you for the next step. We have a career education office that includes mentors, job opportunities, resources, and more, offered on their website. For me personally, I took a class this semester in which some of our assignments included building our LinkedIn account and making connections. These opportunities have given me confidence and direction, providing building blocks for entering the 9-5 world. 

Working and going to school has been great for me to learn more about myself and prepare for life after college. I get exposed to people from all walks of life who enjoy sharing their stories with me. The work-school balance is not as scary as I initially thought it would be, and continues to help me grow. I have learned so much not only at school but also through my job, and that balance has become one of the most valuable parts of my college experience.