A Day in the Life of a University Student

After reading tons of daily journal entries from young professionals and seeing how they spend both their money and their days, I’ve really wanted to read something similar but through a university student’s perspective. So here is my attempt at giving a sort of daily (or maybe weekly… I haven’t decided yet) blog of the life of a student — since its something I’ve not only wanted to do it for a super long time but that I feel it could be helpful for other students too!

I guess I’ll start with yesterday, I actually feel like yesterday, especially since today isn’t over yet, was an emotional day and could be great to talk about.

Wednesday

7:00am — My alarm goes off, I figured I should get up now since I have to be ready and leave for my daily internship at 8:30ish. I started being an intern for a counselling agency about a month and a half ago and I absolutely love working there. I was actually supposed to start this internship in November but on the day I was supposed to start I received a call from my Dad telling me that my grandfather had decided that he would be taking his life the following week. I know this sounds absolutely unbelievable and I hope me sharing this doesn’t spoil or ruin anyone’s day but I figured readers who are struggling can see through this situation and all the other situation’s I’ll probably share that there are others out there that are struggling too and that you can turn to work through the pain together. Anyway, since I started rambling I should probably explain why he made this decision. Two years ago my grandfather was diagnosed with cancer in the bone marrow. Like all cancer sufferers and survivors he lived through the growing pain until it got so intense that the possibility that he would need to be taken care of (in a retirement home or by a private nurse) was very near. This was something that he did not want as he had watched his wife suffer through the monster that is cancer and just couldn’t bear to go through something like that again. I should also mention that he was a very proud and independent individual so having to be taken care of was something that would have been devastating for him. So now that I have explained far more than is related to yesterday I will be getting back to my daily blog now.

7:30am — I decided to snooze until now because I knew I was going to have a long day ahead of me. I get up and make breakfast, shower, watch Rupaul’s Drag Race… actually maybe I was watching The Big Bang Theory. Until recently Rupaul’s Drag Race was the only thing that I would watch but my boyfriend K. turned it on the other day and I think its hilarious. Again, I’m rambling on.

8:50am — I leave to walk the 15 minutes to the bus stop and wait for the bus.

9:30am — I get to the counselling agency in a rush because the bus really cut it close. One thing that you’ll probably gather as I go on in entries is that I try to never be late, it’s something that is super important to me to be on time. Anyhoo, I get to the counselling agency and run upstairs to open the door so I can meet the main counsellor N., it turns out though that she is waiting for me in the parking lot so I re-lock the door and head back downstairs. We planned to meet at her office at 9:30 so that we could drive to an office space that we had an appointment to view.

10:00am — I go in with N. before the agent gets there and look around but end up going back to her car to call another possible place to view. Eventually after sitting in her car waiting for a call back from another agency, I head back upstairs to look around this possible space for her new office with her.

10:30am — The place we view is okay but the agent ruined the viewing by asking N. some personal questions that were absolutely not necessary. We head over to the office space available by the agency I was on the phone with but after waiting there for about five minutes they call us back asking about our needs for the office and it ends up not working out for us.

11:00am — N. because she was so busy this morning says that she forgot breakfast so we stop at a William’s and she buys a bagel for herself and a muffin and a hot chocolate for me. She is honestly one of the kindest and giving people I have ever met.

11:20am — We head over to Staples and pick up a cash box for her office and then make our way to her agency for to be in time for her 12:00pm appointment. — before heading to Staples she stops at Starbucks and again offers to get me something

11:45am — We get to her office and I settle in at her desk while she preps for her client.

3:00pm — I’m super tired today — Most days I work from 12:00pm — 9:00pm, I work with N. from 12:00–5:00ish and then from 6:00pm to 9:15 at Hudson’s Bay. Anyways, even though I was just off the day before I think I was just super drained and knowing that the next day would also be long added me be tired. Because N. is super understanding and has even told me herself that I work too hard she told me to head home early and get some rest.

4:15pm — I didn’t actually have enough time to go home before I started my shift at the Bay so I go the the mall and sit down for a while. This is where I mentioned how yesterday was an emotional day comes in. As I was sitting at the mall, I began to break down and cry, feeling absolutely drained and after thinking back and forth for an hour I decide to head home after all and call in sick. This is something that I rarely ever do! I take working very seriously and felt incredibly bad that not only did I not go to work but I gave about an hour’s notice. This also added to my breakdown which would continue on for the rest of the night.

5:00pm — After crying on the bus ride home, I get home and immdiately head to bed.

8:15pm — I wake up and decide to call K. after he tried to call me on the bus but I just didn’t want to be on the phone.

8:30pm — My best friend and roommate B. comes into my room after she hears me crying and I talk with her for about an hour telling her what’s going on. To shorten this conversation down, I explained to her how exhausted I was from working basically two jobs, also I volunteer with two groups — one that is once a week and another that is once a month. I’m applying to Master’s programs this fall so I’m trying to volunteer and get as much experience as possible for my applications. This all accumulated together plus the fact that I have been eating very poorly and drinking very little lately contributed to the emotional and broken like feelings I was struggling through. I put a lot of pressure on myself to do well because my grandfather gave me the funds to complete my schooling and I just want to make sure that he would be proud of who I become.

10:00pm — After I talk my best friend’s ear off she offers to buy me ice cream (anyone who knows me knows that ice cream is my absolute favourite thing).

10:30pm — We get back from getting ice cream and I eat dinner (a little backwards, but I think we should eat dessert first sometimes!:)) and then head to bed.

** A realization came to me that I had not been taking care of myself mentally lately which contributed to why I felt so terrible. I just want to say that taking care of yourself first above anything else is the most important thing. I want everyone to know that if you are suffering at all, do not be afraid to reach out to anyone who you feel will help you (me included, I’m not sure how communicating works on this site, but I want readers to know that I am ALWAYS here for anyone who might need help in any way). Last night for the first time in a while I used my oil diffuser and actually rubbed calming essential oils on my wrists and temples. I also downloaded an app, Headspace which is supposed to help with meditation. While trying to head to bed I listened to one of the free sleep-casts that they offer and it was pretty relaxing to listen to. Most importantly, what I want to get across is that having time for yourself and doing something you enjoy can help so much mentally!

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