A Day in the Life of a Senior Fisher Student
By: Tricia McHale
It is no simple task to balance classes, student organizations, work, exercise, friendships, and career plans as a college student. However, I feel that throughout my time here at Ohio State, I have been able to find ways to fit in all the activities and people that make being here so special. It’s possible to have your cake and eat it too!
Each person has a different way to remain organized and keep track of the meetings and assignments for their week, and that is the most important step in starting your day. Some prefer digital calendars while others like to keep ‘sticky notes’ on their computer’s desktop. For me, using both a physical planner as well as my calendar shared across my Apple devices helps me track the work I need to complete as well as set aside time for events during the day. As well, I love using the Carmen ‘To Do List” function on my iPad to make sure I submit my assignments. No matter which way you stay on top of your commitments, make sure you do what is best for your style of work!
I’d love to walk you through a day in my life as a senior in the Fisher College of Business to show you how I make time for everything I want to accomplish in a day (even if I don’t always accomplish it all!).
A Typical Tuesday:
7:00 AM – I wake up and make my bed—it’s the first thing I do in the morning without fail! This small piece of my routine helps me feel productive and keeps my room tidy. I pick out an outfit, get ready in the bathroom, do my skincare/makeup, and pack my backpack for my day. Though I wish I could say I read the news, I usually scroll on my phone during this time or do the New York Times daily mini crossword.
7:45 AM – Next, I head downstairs and make breakfast for myself. Lately, I’ve been on the oatmeal train because I can add fruit and get some protein (so I stay full) by adding peanut or almond butter! Having this time in the morning to eat slowly and relax is so important to me because I can leave for class and not be in a rush.
8:15 AM – Cleaning up dishes is a must as well as trying my best to contribute to a clean kitchen with my roommates and empty or fill the dishwasher. It’s not perfect but being in college makes you become a more considerate and thoughtful roommate. I also use this time to clean up more of my room and make sure I have everything I need for the day.
8:30 AM – The rest of my morning changes depending on what I need, but I try to check up on my classes to make sure I didn’t miss any announcements or preparations for the day. I also chat with my roommates who might be up, go on my phone, or just hang out before I leave for class.
9:00 AM - Even though it’s early, I leave for my 9:35 class so I have enough time to walk at a leisurely pace. I love walking on campus in early fall, so it’s nice to have enough time to get to class without breaking a sweat.
9:35 AM – My first class starts—Advertising and Promotional Strategy—and my day officially begins. I love this class so far and would recommend as an elective to any marketing majors!
10:55 AM – Class is now over and it’s time for me to rush home so I can start work.
11:15 AM – I make it home and make a quick lunch from whatever I have in the fridge.
11:30 AM – It’s time to clock in to work! I am continuing my internship from the summer into the fall semester, and it has been wonderful so far. I worked virtually in the summer, so the transition is just a matter of balancing school and work at the moment. I work with Great American Insurance Group’s Environmental Division as a marketing intern and has been amazing to work with such a great team. During my time clocked in on Tuesdays, I have a 1:1 meeting with my supervisor to discuss my work from the past week and upcoming projects. As well, I work primarily on an internal data project on Tuesdays because I work a very short shift to accommodate my schedule.
1:30 PM – Time flies, and I now have to clock out so I can go to class—though it’s my last one for the day.
1:45 PM – I leave for class and sometimes stop for coffee. After staring at a screen non-stop for 2 hours, I can get into an afternoon slump and definitely need the energy.
2:20 PM – Class is starting, and it’s a great discussion-based environment. As an international business minor, I’m really enjoying Institutions of International Business because we read cases with very interesting stories.
3:40 PM – We are now finished with class and it’s time for me to head home. It feels good knowing that I have no more classes left.
4:00 PM – Now that I’m home, I’ll grab a snack and hang out with my roommates just to decompress and catch up on our days.
4:30 PM – I head up to my room and start working on my work due for the week—whether it’s for classes, AMA, or other student organizations. I try to sit at my desk and listen to music so I don’t get distracted.
6:00 PM – I’ll grab a snack and go to some sort of group fitness class at the RPAC or North Rec—most likely cycle.
7:30 PM – Class ends and I’ve gotten a good sweat in—now I can head home and make dinner.
7:45 PM – I’m back and I’ll make something simple because it’s getting late. I love roasted vegetables and salmon or making frozen dumplings from Trader Joe’s and steaming green beans.
8:15 PM – It’s a must that I go shower and start decompressing for the night.
8:40 PM – After showering, I start working on some more homework and hang out with my roommates depending on how much time I have.
10:00 PM – I’ll go up to my room and hang out in my bed so I can fall asleep easily. As well, I’ll check my schedule for the next day on my phone and set alarms for the next day.
Everyone has a different way of managing their time, but I hope my schedule offers you a look into what another Fisher student does during the week!