Like many college students, SCAD students quickly learn that stress and the college life can oftentimes be synonymous. As the quarter continues, it is commonplace to find students hunched over drafting tables, meticulously working their way around a piece of Bristol board, or to find photography students skimming film through development chemicals way past midnight. Going to a school like SCAD, where students can spend upwards of 20 hours a week working outside of class, many are hard-pressed to sustain stellar grades, a job and whatever else can be squeezed into a social life.
Being a full-time student at SCAD may not always be easy, but with the right preparation students can learn to manage the work load and minimize stress. Chris Bagwell, second-year interior design student, relies on his iCal calendar application on his MacBook Pro to stay on top of managing his time. “I plan time for school work, my job and anything else I do. It syncs to my iPhone. It’s my life,” Bagwell said.
With responsible time-management, Bagwell finds he can accomplish his class work and paper work for his job and still reward himself with free time he didn’t plan on having. “No stress, I stay on top of my game. I over plan for school work, so I give myself accidental free time,” he said.
Bagwell also works as a Resident Assistant at Spring House, but uses his time there to get even more work done. “I study on the job. I utilize my time by both being on duty for students who need me and getting as much work for class done as I can,” said Bagwell.
Time management is one the most important tools for handling stress and the seemingly endless piles of work while in school, but students often find this concept difficult to put into practice. Disciplined students, however, find that there is no other option than to stay on top of how they use their time.
For second-year printmaking student Alexis Blaudeau, creating check lists for class assignments makes stressful tasks more manageable by allowing her to keep track of what needs to be done by the end of the day. “To prevent myself from laying on my carpet, pulling my hair out, I try and break up my projects into small checklists. Every night when I go to sleep I feel like I did something,” said Blaudeau.
Although diligence and efficiency are arguably some of the most important tools for college students, there are other ways to cut down on stress. “Try to go out and have a little fun. Working nonstop isn’t practical,” Bagwell said. “When I’ve been working hard for days in a row, I take a break and go do something with my friends.”
Students can feel pressured to constantly work on their projects and forget about taking a breather for themselves. When projects become all-consuming, students end up leaving little time to take care of themselves. Without proper sleep and a balanced diet, focusing on class and producing the best work can be impossible. While it is important to make a serious effort to put school ahead of play, students should still remember a little fun is healthy and necessary to stay sane.
