Motivation Monday: Keeping Busy with Classes, Clubs, and Internships

Being in college is not easy. It can be rather busy. Of course, there are classes, which every college student experiences. But many add even more on top, like clubs, Greek life, jobs, and internships.

This semester is perhaps my busiest one yet. Although I'm currently only taking four classes, I have a lot of other responsibilities and commitments. I am the writing editor of the University of Illinois' official yearbook, Illio (which is essentially a job); an intern with FloGymnastics as the University of Illinois Correspondent; the secretary of the University of Illinois' To Write Love on Her Arms UChapter; and recently joined the Illinois Sports Business Association. In addition, I just found out last week that I will be adding another class during the second half of the semester as part of a sports media industry immersion trip to Portland.

It certainly looks like a lot to handle, and it is. I don't think I've ever had so much on my plate before. So why do it? Why pile an internship, two clubs, and a job on top of schoolwork? What's the motivation behind it? Isn't there a worry that it's too much to handle?

Of course. Since this is the most I've ever been responsible for, I'm definitely worried. But I'm not going to let that stop me from making connections, getting involved, and best preparing myself for my future, which is what these activities are doing.

Veterans Day 2015: How Journalism Made Me More Grateful

Last semester, during the spring of 2014, I was involved in a a project the local WILL/Illinois Public Media was doing on Vietnam veterans. My entire multimedia reporting class helped WILL interview Vietnam veterans living in downstate Illinois and compile their oral histories. As part of the project, I photographed, filmed, interviewed and recorded sound relating to one veteran and his story, applying the skills I was learning in my multimedia class. (The photos featured here are part of that class and project.)

Hard Work and Happiness at the 2014 Secret Classic

Waking up at 6 AM, working from 10 AM to 8:30 PM and not getting home until around midnight sounds like all work and no play, especially when work seems to take priority over food, but it's not. At least for me it wasn't.

This past Saturday, August 2, I was given the opportunity to work at the Secret U.S. Classic with Gymnastike. It was one of the best experiences of my life so far.

I got to the Sears Centre Arena around 9:30 AM, got my media credentials and then went into the media room. The seniors were still training, so we waited in the media workroom. There, I met the Gymnastike people I worked with, Becca and Jason, as well as Leslie King, the USA Gymnastics Vice President of Communications, all of whom were very nice and helpful to work with.

Adventuring Through the History of Gymnastics

At the end of May, I was asked to blog for Gymnastike over the summer to help create more blogs and articles to be feature on their site. I was flattered (and still am), so I gladly accepted.

My first post will focus on some historic events and highlights in the sport of gymnastics that occurred in the month of June. To be honest, I do not have extensive knowledge on the sport and its history as I only became a huge fan and closely followed the sport in 2012. Because of this, I have a lot of research to do.