Balancing Work and Graduate School

My name is Tychira Brown, and I am a full-time graduate student in the Mathematics Master of Arts (MA) program. I am a Housing Manager with the Department of Residential Life – University Apartments. As a full-time graduate student, I have classes five days a week which I must balance with my duties as a Housing Manager.

As a graduate student, it can sometimes be tough to find time for yourself, but it is important to make time. One way I try to stay organized with my multiple responsibilities and personal life is I put everything on my Outlook calendar so that when I am making plans with friends, I am aware of what other responsibilities I have prior. For class work, I created an excel sheet that has all my assignments and due dates; I go in weekly to see what the week is going to look like and for what I must plan.

Two strategies that have worked for me are communicating with others around me so that they know what my schedule looks like and finding time to take a break. In my spare time, I like to hang out with my friends by getting food, and spending time resting. It is important to have this balance so that you do not get consumed with only work. Do not forget that graduate school is challenging so you do need that balance.