2008 Woodie Awards
A Day in the Life of a Holt Student
Overcoming the challenges of balancing work, school and life schedules.
Lillian Nieves
Issue date: 12/3/04 Section: Holt News
This semester there are 1251 Hamilton Holt Students enrolled at Rollins. Many of these students hold full time jobs, and a few of them even take on a full course load. A typical day in the life of a Holt student can be very challenging.
Mike, a junior at Rollins, wakes up at 6:15 a.m. to be at work by 7:00 a.m. His day consists of meetings, sales calls, and lunches with clients. After a long day of running around, he clocks out at 5:00 p.m. and rushes to school. He does this 3 times a week because he is not only working full time but has committed himself to taking 3 courses this semester. On the evenings he doesn't have class, he is either meeting with a group regarding a class project, studying for a class, or completing an assignment.
How do they do it? It's not easy! However, it can be done, and these students are living proof! When I asked these determined students, they gave me some pretty creative ideas on overcoming the challenge of working full time and attending school.
Make the Sacrifice- As hard as it may be, you may need to give up parties, dinners, and other events to make sure papers are completed, tests are studied for, and classes are passed.
Organization and Prioritization- Success for most means getting organized and prioritizing your schedule. To accomplish this, Holt students use many different methods: day timers, palm pilots, and notebooks are great tools. Make sure to jot down assignments and due dates so you don't forget important dates.
Eliminate distractions- Like most Holt students, I find that I have to eliminate distractions. For example, I know that if I stay home to study, the phone, television, the laundry that's piling up, etc will interrupt me. To avoid these distractions I typically go somewhere else to study, like the Olin Library or a local bookstore.
Set study times & form groups- Many students set aside certain days and hours to study. For example, every Monday night between 5 p.m. and 9 p.m., I go to the library to work on my assignments. When time is limited, this is the only way to stay on top of the game. Forming study groups is another helpful way not only to help keep you motivated but to generate and share ideas regarding the subject. "I find that when I study with a group, I retain more information and actually learn the subject matter," said John, a full time Holt student.
The wonderful thing about these tips is that they apply to anyone, not just Holt students. When you find yourself in a struggle with time, classes, course materials, or any other issue, remember your peers are or have gone through similar struggles. Take a moment to ask for some guidance; you might make a friend out of the experience.
Mike, a junior at Rollins, wakes up at 6:15 a.m. to be at work by 7:00 a.m. His day consists of meetings, sales calls, and lunches with clients. After a long day of running around, he clocks out at 5:00 p.m. and rushes to school. He does this 3 times a week because he is not only working full time but has committed himself to taking 3 courses this semester. On the evenings he doesn't have class, he is either meeting with a group regarding a class project, studying for a class, or completing an assignment.
How do they do it? It's not easy! However, it can be done, and these students are living proof! When I asked these determined students, they gave me some pretty creative ideas on overcoming the challenge of working full time and attending school.
Make the Sacrifice- As hard as it may be, you may need to give up parties, dinners, and other events to make sure papers are completed, tests are studied for, and classes are passed.
Organization and Prioritization- Success for most means getting organized and prioritizing your schedule. To accomplish this, Holt students use many different methods: day timers, palm pilots, and notebooks are great tools. Make sure to jot down assignments and due dates so you don't forget important dates.
Eliminate distractions- Like most Holt students, I find that I have to eliminate distractions. For example, I know that if I stay home to study, the phone, television, the laundry that's piling up, etc will interrupt me. To avoid these distractions I typically go somewhere else to study, like the Olin Library or a local bookstore.
Set study times & form groups- Many students set aside certain days and hours to study. For example, every Monday night between 5 p.m. and 9 p.m., I go to the library to work on my assignments. When time is limited, this is the only way to stay on top of the game. Forming study groups is another helpful way not only to help keep you motivated but to generate and share ideas regarding the subject. "I find that when I study with a group, I retain more information and actually learn the subject matter," said John, a full time Holt student.
The wonderful thing about these tips is that they apply to anyone, not just Holt students. When you find yourself in a struggle with time, classes, course materials, or any other issue, remember your peers are or have gone through similar struggles. Take a moment to ask for some guidance; you might make a friend out of the experience.