Student Profile with Introduction
PROFILE
Jasmine Williams, 25
Business Major, Two-year college
When Jasmine Williams started college, she knew that she would have many competing obligations: work, family, and studying for her courses. Holding a job as a nursing assistant and taking care of her family were already demanding, and Jasmine was determined to pursue her educational goal to become a registered nurse. In the middle of her first term, she felt pressure from her job responsibilities, family members who needed her time and attention, and school assignments that were getting more complex; she did not have enough energy to do it all. “Sometimes I just got overwhelmed with school and just wanted to work or take care of my family and would put my schoolwork on the back burner. This had some bad side effects,” she explains. “Once I saw the drop in my grades, I knew that I had to reprioritize and get back on track.”
“It’s like each part of my life is a puzzle piece. If I don’t make sure each piece fits, or if any piece is missing, the puzzle doesn’t work and breaks apart.”
Jasmine needed to work, but she realized if she put herself and her family on a strict budget, she could cut back on her work hours. Then she prioritized her time to maintain her busy schedule and her sanity. “My main priorities are family, school, and work,” she says. “I find places in my schedule to fit them in every week and also find time to reenergize myself a little bit, too. All of these things are important and essential for me to be successful and happy. It’s like each part of my life is a puzzle piece. If I don’t keep making sure that each piece fits, or if any piece is missing, the puzzle doesn’t work and breaks apart.”
2.1ManagingYour Time
2.2ManagingYour Energy
2.3ManagingYour Money
One of the keys to Jasmine’s success is organization across the three main aspects of her life—family, work, and college. Because there is only so much time in a day, Jasmine focused on prioritizing and scheduling to make room for everything, including time for her to relax and enjoy her life. She prioritized her family and college over her work, and she was able to cut back on her work hours and stick to a budget. Getting organized involves learning how to use your resources—time, energy, and money—in the most effective ways possible.