As a college student at Ball State, I have faced numerous challenges. Transitioning from high school to college was just one of the big hurdles I, like most students, had to overcome. Going from thinking school was extremely easy to being tested and challenged every week was definitely something I had to adapt to if I was going to be successful. The biggest recurring challenge for me is time management, especially as I start adding more responsibilities to my full plate, which can become overwhelming and stressful.
With ROTC, National Guard, classwork, scholarship work, and student organizations, there is always something for me to do every hour of the day. Being versatile through this is the only way I’ve been able to manage all of these responsibilities. Another challenge I faced was managing the workload from classes alongside my other responsibilities, and learning how to meet the higher standards that come with college. In high school, I felt like everything was basically handed to us, and the only thing we really had to do was show up. In college, however, much more is required.
Through these experiences, I’ve learned that growth doesn’t come from adding more to your schedule—it comes from understanding yourself better along the way. At the Miller College of Business, I’ve had many great opportunities that have promoted my professional development, as well as through my property management community. I’ve also had the honor of taking part in unique events through the Miller Leadership Academy that further grew my professionalism and taught me things about myself I would’ve never learned without the program. Dialogue Days, face-to-face, mentor-mentee mixers, and many other events are just a few of the invaluable networking events and learning courses that I have had the opportunity to take through my programs.
The longer you stay in college, the more you realize that no one actually has everything completely figured out. Everyone is just trying to get by. Some are a little better at it than others, and recognizing that everyone is human and not perfect helps a lot—especially if you tend to cling to being a perfectionist. One tough thing I had to accept is that I’m physically not going to be able to do everything I want, as more and more responsibilities are added to my already full schedule. Figuring out the balance between the things you want to do and the things you must do is essential in your first or second semester.
The way to look at things when you become stressed is to remember that worrying about how much work you have is a blessing that most others don’t have. Being appreciative of everything—including the things you really don’t want to do—is the only thing that helps me handle my workload. Remembering that God has a plan for me and that I trust Him also helps me immensely. I hope my story reminds other students that even in the most stressful seasons, there is still room to grow, adapt, and find purpose in the process.
— Reo Horie
