College: A Crash Course in Life

By: Joy Mulzoff

Photo courtesy of James Madison University

If there’s one thing that college has taught me, it’s how to find balance. Not physically - but instead figuring out how to balance many important things in life. Coming into college, I thought finding a balance would be easy, especially with all the free time I was going to have. Now, as a senior juggling classes, extracurriculars, friends, jobs, applications and ignoring the impending doom of graduation? I’ve discovered that college is a crash course on balance, time management and self-discovery. There’s something kind of beautiful within all the chaos. 

As an individual majoring in creative advertising within the School of Media Arts and Design, I’ve fallen in love with storytelling. Luckily, I was able to choose classes and professors that fed my passions. My classes have taught me a lot and provided me with a solid foundation for the career I want to pursue. 

Some of the most important lessons I learned have happened outside of the classroom. When people tell you it’s important to get involved in college, they’re telling the truth! My extracurriculars have been a huge part of my college experience. Whether it was managing social media for my sorority, Tri Delta, or taking charge of an ad campaign for the National Student Advertising Competition, I was able to flourish. I put my all into my experience, and that effort got me results. I have skills and memories I will hold forever. Another common quip about college is that “the people make the place,” and that’s true, too. My roommates, freshman year friends, sorority sisters, and academic colleagues have all made college meaningful and special. 

It’s easy to get caught up in the grind: the Canvas assignments, the meetings, the internships. But college isn’t just about reaching the finish line; it’s about figuring out what kind of person you want to be. For me, being part of Bluestone Communications gave me a space to apply what I was learning in class, build real-world skills, connect with other creatives (and non-creatives) and learn a lot about myself in different situations. It was just the right amount of fun and challenging, balancing time and managing many other things that were on my plate. 

I’ve learned that growth isn’t linear. Some days you’re thriving, checking off your to-do list, killing it in your classes and grabbing lunch with friends. Other days, you’re overwhelmed and questioning everything! And that’s okay. College has taught me that you have to just take it day by day, breath by breath. Some of my favorite moments weren’t the big events, but the little things: spontaneous ice cream runs, laughing with my roommates or running errands with friends. Those moments reminded me to slow down and take it all in, because this phase of life goes by faster than you think.

No one ever really balances college life perfectly. It’s different for everyone. But we do get better at adjusting, prioritizing and showing ourselves grace. Every late-night cram session, every meltdown, every unproductive meeting… It's all part of the ride.

So, to the future students trying to do it all: You can. And you will. Just remember to enjoy the little things, lean on your people and know that the best kind of growth usually comes from the moments you least expect.