Life as a college student can often seem like an overwhelming mountain of classes and homework. Throw in clubs, sports, friends, and personal life and you have quite the busy day. Every day is different. Everyday has its challenges. But each day also provides a lot of opportunity. Finding a balance between academics and everything else can be incredibly fulfilling. Here’s a peek into a day in my life as a second year biomedical sciences major at RIT.
Starting My Day at Global Village
My alarm goes off and I roll out of bed. I live in a suite in a Global Village. My suite has two bathrooms, a common room, and a kitchen. I love living here because it’s so close to The Market at Global Village and a quick walk to all of my classes. After a shower, I make myself breakfast. While I eat I take a look at my planner and mentally gear up for the day.
Morning Focus at the SHED
To kick off my day, I like to head over to the SHED to do some homework before classes. Inside the SHED there are classrooms, study spaces, makerspaces, performing arts studios, and more. It’s a place where students like me can work while staying connected to everything happening around campus. I end up using this time to get some work done, especially if I have labs late in the day.
Diving into Molecular Biology
My first class of the day is a Molecular Biology lecture. I spend the class taking detailed notes on the material and participating in group discussions and activities. We spend a lot of time working with the structure of DNA molecules and understanding what role proteins play in the processes of DNA and RNA replication.
A Community in Organic Chemistry
After class, I walk over to the library for an Organic Chemistry study group. Together, our group works on practice problems and studies for upcoming exams. Having a strong community inside and outside the classroom is something that has definitely helped me succeed here. I’ve met an amazing group of people and we all help support each other.
Refueling at the RITZ
Time to meet some friends for lunch at RITZ, a great place to eat on campus with multiple dining options, including vegetarian and gluten-free. Visiting chefs add variety to the menu. I normally get the pasta bake with meatballs and a smoothie. This portion of my day is so important because it allows my brain to have a break and I get to recharge with people that I care about.
Anatomy in Action
My second class of the day is Human Anatomy and Physiology I. Personally, it’s my favorite class. Professor Brewer is super engaging during lectures. Recently, we’ve been studying the muscular system and it's so cool. This class is very fast-paced and note-heavy, so I try to stay on top of the material by looking over the slides we’re going to cover before going to class. Right after my anatomy class I have my Human Anatomy and Physiology Lab. This is where we get to apply what we’ve learned during class and lectures and complete hands-on activities like human dissection. RIT just got a new Digital Anatomy Table that gives students a unique lens with which to learn about anatomy.
Wellness and Balance
After lab I stop by my apartment to change into my gym clothes. Then my roommate and I head to the Red Barn, a rock climbing gym on campus. We’re doing an asynchronous climbing course to satisfy one of our wellness courses. We have so much fun when we go climbing.
Winding Down
We head back to our apartment and make dinner together. I really love this time of my day because I get to catch up with my best friend while we cook dinner and wind down. At this point in my day I like to play Stardew Valley. It's one of my favorite video games and it's so relaxing. Sometimes I play online with my friends from other schools, which is a great way to stay connected.
I like to do my assigned reading before getting ready for bed, that way I don’t let it pile up. This also lets me break down long chapters into manageable chunks. I like to annotate my readings and add notes to the margins to help me grasp the concepts at hand.
Lights Out
I try to keep a regular sleep schedule during the semester to stay as well-rested and energized for the next day. My days can be long, but they are fulfilling.