To Do List

It's 8 a.m., and I already have +20 things to do on my to do list. If I wanted to get everything that I would want, I probably wouldn't finish within a week. If I stopped giving you information there, you would probably think I should lighten down my schedule or do something more manageable.

To some people it may seem impossible to have a super-filled schedule while not spreading too thin, especially in college. However, it is possible to have a very busy schedule all while performing relatively well and still having time to relax.

It all comes down to prioritizing. Above most things, I am a student, and as such I value my academic performance very highly. However, like most people, I have other interests that define me. I am also a musician, a writer, a worker. (College students are poor!) More importantly, I am also a daughter, a sister, a friend, a citizen, a mentor, a roommate.

I like to think that my priorities-- my own definition of myself-- could be seen in what I do.

To do List For Today: 

• Study Chemistry (Practice problems) 
• Read Physics and turn in problem set
• Finish multivar. calculus homework and study for Exam!!
• Listen to and write an evaluation of a radio show
• Do rocket equation problems
• Design Lego Robot 
• Laundry
• Practice trumpet 
• Grocery Shopping
• Exercising
• Cook dinner
• Apply for summer internships
• Apply for summer teaching assistant positions
• write a letter to my sisters
• write to several of my friends
• wrap another one of my friends' gifts
• Schedule study sessions
• Schedule Volunteering 
• Sleep.

Now, let's be reasonable, here. There is no way I could ever do all of that in a day. But I might get a few things done here and there. I might not get anything done except the last item on the list in a given day because I simply am too tired (and sleepy) to do work, and instead add on to the list the next day. There are some things on the list that I do at least in some way every day (studying), while there are other things (exercising) that I could do a lot more of.
On a day that I want to get a lot of things done, I tell myself what the most important things to accomplish will be. As long as I get what the most important things to me are, I'm headed in the right direction.

Of course, if my schedule weren't as busy as it is, I would have more time to study, and of course, it would be a lot easier to learn academic things. However, I wouldn't be developing myself in other areas.

There are always compromises. I possibly could be just an amazing student--always doing the extra problems and the extra readings, but I would have to compromise being a friend, a musician, a volunteer, etc.

I always like to focus on the big picture. In the end, I guess my priority is to be a well-rounded, well-educated person. And in my opinion, it takes a lot more than focusing on being a good student to accomplish this.