To my younger friends, family, peers, and readers out there, you have probably been anxiously waiting for high school graduation to come. Just the thought of college makes you so happy and excited all at the same time. What will it be like? Will I miss home? How hard is it really? Hopefully, this article will give you a small look into a day in the life of a college student!

In high school, they say they try to prepare you for college. But let's all be honest here. College is NOTHING like high school. It is so much better! Way more hectic, but definitely better. In high school, getting up and being in class at 8 a.m. is normal. In college, 8 a.m. classes are the worst. Students do everything in their power to not have an 8 a.m. class!

One of the hardest things about college is pinpointing down a major. There are so many that vary from Puppetry to Bowling Managment and probably anything you could think of. In your first two years of college, you will take your general education classes and then in your junior and senior years you start taking classes that are more specific to your major.

You may have slid your way through high school without studying, but that will not happen in college. You have to study or you will fail. It might take a while to get in the grove, but it is a must. Some people study in groups, with notecards, by reading, or even by drawing pictures. But pick something that works for you! Because once you find what works best, the hard work will pay off when you get your grades back! Getting an "A" in college is a lot harder than in high school so when you do get an A, the reward is huge!

One of the biggest problems that I had when I started college is time management! You have so much to do and so much to remember that your planner will become your best friend and your lifeline. I never used one until college and now I have a breakdown if I can't find it.

Here is just an example of a day in the life of a college student.

Cassie Shelton

Saint Mary-of-the-Woods College, Junior
Saint Mary-of-the-Woods College, Indiana
Major: Equine Business Management and Business Administration

• 6:00am: Wake up and work out for 30 minutes. Take a shower then go back to bed.
• 7:00am: My first alarm for classes goes off. I hit snooze until 7:20 (or later!)
• 7:45am: Head out to the barn to clean my stall before classes.
• 9:00am: Go to my first class, equine lameness where I eat breakfast during lecture (sorry not sorry Dr. Powell!)
• 10:00am: Next class: Nonprofit Business. Try to stay awake until my breakfast kicks in.
• 11:00am: Go one door down to Business Management. Don't keep looking at the clock or time will slow down. Believe me, I know!
• 12:00pm-1:00pm: Either I eat lunch or take a nap. Or sometimes I just scarf something down and then take a nap. NAPS ARE IMPORTANT!
• 1:00pm: Business Marketing Class, try not to bang my head off of the desk when other students do not know how to keep quiet.
• 2:00pm-4:00pm: Work at the career development center.
  • Take advantage of your career center to get help with resumés, internships, jobs, or even proper business wear!
• 4:00pm-5:00pm: NAP TIME! Yay!!!
• 5:00pm: Cook something healthy for dinner (or I try to!)
  • In college, it is super easy to just go grab something easy for dinner. We are all guilty of it. But try to eat healthily! It makes you feel way better and you can avoid the Freshman 15!
• 7:00pm-11:00pm: Do homework, study, block Netflix so I don't get distracted...
• 11:30pm: Take a shower and get everything ready for tomorrow
• 12:00am: FINALLY time for bed!

College can be super hard at times and make you feel like you are a walking zombie. But your hard work will pay off and you will even have the time of your life! While studies are the most important thing, try not to forget to have fun every now and then! Go out to dinner with your friends, go to a party on the weekend, and make memories that will last a lifetime!