In high school, I struggled to say no. I would often smile and say “Yes” whenever something was asked of me while internally worrying about how I was going to fit it into my busy schedule. I learned that hard way that avoiding the word “no” often leads to burnout.
Upon some reflection over my high school experiences, I’ve only joined a couple of student organizations so far: Ethics Bowl and Iowa Agni. This has allowed me to adjust to college life without feeling burnt out. Occasionally, I feel that I have too much time to spare. However, free time was rare for me in high school, so I may be biased in my perception of what is too much or too little.
Time is fascinating to me, you see. The time I have to myself depends on the time I spend on my commitments. Even when studying for heavily weighted midterms, it is important to take breaks and put the material aside. In high school, I was stuck in a vicious cycle of “getting through” something, whether that be an audition, a test, or a race, before I would allow myself to relax or “have fun.” However, as soon as I finished one thing, there was always another, and relaxation would remain on the back burner. I never quite understood why I had this mindset. My parents would tell me to stop putting so much pressure on myself, but I always viewed relaxation as secondary to my commitments.
In college, I’ve found that I allow for more flexibility in my schedule. I say yes to new experiences, ones that help me find balance and discover new talents. Last Friday, I ran into a friend while watching the sunset from the steps of the Old Capitol Museum. She asked me to try embroidery club with her, and I’m happy I said, “Sure!” Not only was embroidery incredibly fun and therapeutic, but we also made a new friend with whom we made plans to go to the Farmer’s Market! I’m a firm believer that friendships can blossom out of the blue, and college has proven this to be true.
Last Thursday, I had a midterm, and much of that morning and afternoon was spent studying. However, I set aside the notes to grab coffee with a high school teacher who was in town. Having this to look forward to helped me lock in, and it was so fun to share updates and hear how she’s been.
My free time has also lent itself to enjoying the bursts of color around campus. I voted (for the first time ever) yesterday, and the walk to and from the voting center was beautiful! Going on walks has sparked reflection on my favorite fall memories and an appreciation for the now. Walking everywhere has been great, but it does take time off my plate. I still haven’t taken the Cambus, but this week’s Halloween routes look sus. I fear I’m turning into a poet as we speak, so I promise I’ll ride the bus next week. Updates will come soon, so you make sure you stay tuned!
Until we meet again!
