As a wife, mother, registered dietitian, nutritional sciences graduate student, and student advisory board member at Penn State World Campus, I am balancing a lot! One of the main reasons I applied to Penn State World Campus was the ability to complete my graduate education 100% online. If you are thinking of finishing your degree or coming back to school, know that it can be done; however, planning and time management are important. Here is what a typical day looks like for me:
5:45 a.m. – Wake up and get ready.
6:20 a.m. – Wake my son and get him ready for the day. (Although he is usually already awake and waiting for me!)
7:00 a.m. – Drop off my son and head to work.
7:30 a.m. – My work day starts. I work as a critical-care dietitian at Memorial Hermann The Woodlands Medical Center in The Woodlands, Texas. Usually, my mornings are spent going to rounds and seeing patients.
12:00 p.m. – It’s lunch time, which also means homework time. I usually take a working lunch at my desk and get some homework done.
12:30 p.m. – Lunch is over, back to work!
4:00 p.m. – Leave work and pick up my son.
4:45 p.m. – Once we get home, usually I will play with my son outside (dependent on the weather).
5:30 p.m. – I start making dinner while my son watches a little TV.
6:00 p.m. – My husband gets home from work and we eat together as a family.
7:00 p.m. – After my son goes to bed, the real fun starts – AKA, finishing all the chores around the house.
8:30 p.m. – I’ll work on homework, do projects, and attend office hours as needed.
11:00 p.m. – Bed time!
Of course, this is an ideal schedule, and not every day goes according to plan. However, with a little planning, time management, and avoiding procrastination, it’s doable. Some days are better than others. My husband and family are very supportive of my studies, and I realize that is important to my success. I also take one class at a time, which is another opportunity that Penn State World Campus offers. While it is taking me longer to complete my degree, I do have the flexibility to accommodate it around my family life. Good luck and remember, WE ARE!