Being a college student can be a lot. This means lots of schoolwork and or lots of work outside of school.
You might have heard the term “school should be your first priority” from your parents when you were younger. How much of that statement is true?
Putting schoolwork first isn’t wrong or a bad thing. Doing your schoolwork is important to make sure you achieve your academic goal. But if it gets to the point where you don’t do things you love anymore, or don’t go out with loved ones and the people you care about, it can be a negative thing — not just on your mental health but on it can also impact your work as well.
Sierra Dobbs, 19, a psychology major at Frederick Community College, works as well as attending school.
“I try to put school first and then whatever time I have left is when I do the things I want to do,” she said.
Dobbs finds that finding a balance between hanging out with friends and doing schoolwork helps in the long run.
“I think it definitely makes your mental health better, which I think in turn will make your schoolwork better,” she said.
Dobbs said spending time with her friends and doing things she likes has improved her schoolwork.
But what do you do if you’re having trouble finding that free time? Doing schoolwork while also holding down a job can be very hard. A good way to start connecting with people is to find a time you and your friend are both free
It can be small, as in getting lunch or whatever you both enjoy doing. Spending time with a good friend or loved one can bring up your mental health and mood by seeing the people you care about and getting a break to enjoy being with them at the moment.
Zoe Theologou, 17, a social sciences major at FCC, said she loves to read.
“I try to make time for it by reading at night,” she said.
To help her life balance, Theologou sets her priorities. She said she tries to get work during the day and even on campus to either work or have time to do what she likes.
Theologou said she makes it a point to focus on her studies or work and her friends, but not simultaneously.
“I used to cancel plans with friends and only focus on school and work, which would upset me not seeing them and I felt like it would impact the work I was submitting,” she said.
