Wondering what college life is really like? College is more than studying, and being busy with school. College is about becoming who you are and making new friends, and pursuing your career goals. Let’s take a closer look into Alexa’s life, and explore her daily routine as a student in college.
Alexa is a freshman studying Pre-Nursing at the University of Washington. She takes 4 classes each quarter: chemistry, chemistry lab, math, & a seminar class. In chemistry she does note taking, and the lab is when she works with partners to run experiments and record data. Math is her favorite class. She practices problems her professor assigns. Her seminar class is discussion-based covering college life and strategies. To stay organized, Alexa uses a planner and checks Canvas every day. She finishes assignments early to avoid feeling stressed and prefers studying in quiet spots like the library or her dorm desk, reviewing her notes from the day.
Alexa’s day starts around 7:30 a.m. as she gets ready for her 8:30 chemistry class. Her routine is quick: she washes up, gets dressed, does her makeup, and heads out. Before class starts, she sometimes grabs a drink or snack to get her energy up for the day. Her schedule is busy but balanced and changes by the day. She has chemistry Monday through Thursday and has a 2-hour gap before math, which she takes only on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays. The days she doesn’t have math class she does the same but goes back to the dorm for a quick nap before her seminar class starts on Thursday at 2:30 p.m. Some days she has a chemistry lab, which can run late until 8:30. Afterward, she goes to the gym for a while, then dinner, and then relaxes in her dorm.
She’s not in a club yet, but she plans to join one soon. She says, “maybe something related to health or nursing.” For now, she’s just focusing on her classes and getting used to her college life. Her favorite spot on campus is the library. It’s very quiet and helps her focus. When the weather is nice, she sits by the fountain. Somedays she studies with friends late at night but ends up laughing and talking the whole night instead. She says, “It made me realize how nice it is to have friends who make college feel less stressful.”
When Alexa faces challenges, she calls her family for support. Taking breaks and going to the gym helps her stay relaxed. Her advice for new students is to stay organized, to ask for help, and make time for yourself because it will get stressful. Her goal is to finish her pre-nursing classes and get into the nursing program. What keeps her going is thinking about her career and her family. “College is teaching me to be independent, and to learn about myself,” she says.
Alexa’s journey at the University of Washington is full of many surprises, with each day having their own challenges. Even though college can be stressful, she finds a way to handle it, showing her growth and preparation for her future one step at a time. Learning that with time, she will figure out how to handle hard situations.
