When I began writing this blog over two years ago, the picture of a bakery scale at the top of this page had become somewhat of an ironic symbol of my life. I was a college sophomore at John Jay College going to school full-time, working at a bakery, volunteering, and trying to maintain a social life. I was still adjusting to college, and I thought things were hectic.
Nowadays I balance those same responsibilities along with a slew of others. At Echoing Green, a non-profit that promotes social change by funding young social entrepreneurs, I work three days a week doing event planning and data management. I spend three days a week as a peer mentor at John Jay through the Office of First Year Experience, where I guide and aid freshman as they adjust to college life. In the spring of my sophomore year I was awarded a Jeannette K. Watson Fellowship, a program that provides internships, mentoring, and enriched educational opportunities to promising New York City undergraduates with the goal of increasing their life choices and developing their capacity to make a difference in their own and others’ lives. I also try my best to make time after my full-time course load, my three jobs, and the Fellowship to volunteer. To this end, I joined Phi Eta Sigma, an honors society at John Jay that values scholarship and community outreach, in 2009. I soon became Treasurer, then Secretary on the executive board of the society’s John Jay chapter, a position that comes with more responsibility than I thought.
Picture taken as a part of the Why Do You Do What You Do Project. To learn more visit wdydwyd.com.
Back when I was a sophomore I thought my life was hectic. Over these past two years, it’s only gotten more intense. My epic struggle to keep the items on the one side of my scale (the have to-do list side, as I refer to it) from toppling over without neglecting the other side (the want to-do list side) has only gotten tougher. And my life remains one giant “let me pencil you in” moment, though I gain experience as I go.
It is my intention in writing this blog, as it has always been, to share my experiences as a John Jay student, waitress, young professional, peer mentor, Jeanette K. Watson Fellow, PES executive board member, avid volunteerer, daughter, and friend – all of which can be full-time positions at any given moment on any given day. Even after two years I do not have all the answers, but I do have my story, my thoughts, and what has worked for me. And, that is what I share here in the hopes that my insight can help you in your own balancing act.
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