Day in The Life: UMD Edition
By Tahlia Williams
~Opinion~
~Opinion~
November 13, 2023
Image Credit: Photo by Grace Dadson on Unsplash
Morning Routine (8:00 A.M. - 11:00 A.M.)
The aggravating sound of my alarm clock would have been a better way to wake me up this morning than my roommate's drawers slamming. Even though my first class in the morning is at 11, as a journalism student I have to return my broadcast equipment by 9:30 a.m. After scrolling through TikTok, I plant my feet on the floor and begin my day. Now time for showering quickly, getting ready, and filling my water bottle, I head for my news videography class.
Class and School Work (12:50 P.M. - 2:00 P.M.)
Since I only have one class on Mondays and Wednesdays, I end my school day early. In the fall, the University of Maryland campus is breathtakingly gorgeous. The crimson leaves fall to the ground around me, and a calm wind follows, making up for the sun's intense heat. I listen to my favorite music which is currently the new Drake album, on repeat, as I take my short stroll home. I order a chicken caesar wrap for lunch at the Sigma Delta Tau house and return to complete my homework and unwind.
Sorority Activities (2:30 P.M. - 6:00 P.M)
My afternoon is packed with a Greek life event called Derby Days, which is a weeklong philanthropic event to raise money for children with cancer. My sisters and I sprint through an inflatable obstacle course today in the style of a relay race, attempting to complete it faster than the other chapters. After that, I take part in the Clean City Project, where my sisters and I pick up trash while wearing gloves and stroll around Old Town to improve the surrounding area.
It's dinnertime when we get home from volunteering. We have a chef in the sorority house who makes us lunch and dinner; tonight, we had stir fry and teriyaki chicken. But my favorite part was dessert, because you can never go wrong with a build-your-own ice cream sundae. One of my favorite aspects of living in the house is having a chef who prepares a range of wonderful snacks and meals for us. Every day is different, but my favorite meal is always spaghetti.
Personal Time and Wellness (6:30-7:15)
Having some time for myself after a demanding day of mingling, activities, and classes is necessary. I unwind and watch TV around this time—my favorite show is “Shameless.” Having this time is crucial for keeping a good balance between my personal and academic lives.
Evening Unwind (7:30 P.M. - 9:30 P.M.)
Before I can fully relax for the rest of the evening, I double-check that all of my assignments that are due that day have been handed in and completed. Then I take a shower and spend time with my roommates. I head downstairs with the other house girls to watch “Dancing With The Stars.” I feel successful when I look back on my day and see that I was productive and got things done that I needed to.
Being a student at UMD is both demanding and gratifying; I can pursue my academic interests and participate in engaging and enthusiastic social activities while also taking care of my well-being. It's a fulfilling life, and I wouldn’t have it any other way.
The aggravating sound of my alarm clock would have been a better way to wake me up this morning than my roommate's drawers slamming. Even though my first class in the morning is at 11, as a journalism student I have to return my broadcast equipment by 9:30 a.m. After scrolling through TikTok, I plant my feet on the floor and begin my day. Now time for showering quickly, getting ready, and filling my water bottle, I head for my news videography class.
Class and School Work (12:50 P.M. - 2:00 P.M.)
Since I only have one class on Mondays and Wednesdays, I end my school day early. In the fall, the University of Maryland campus is breathtakingly gorgeous. The crimson leaves fall to the ground around me, and a calm wind follows, making up for the sun's intense heat. I listen to my favorite music which is currently the new Drake album, on repeat, as I take my short stroll home. I order a chicken caesar wrap for lunch at the Sigma Delta Tau house and return to complete my homework and unwind.
Sorority Activities (2:30 P.M. - 6:00 P.M)
My afternoon is packed with a Greek life event called Derby Days, which is a weeklong philanthropic event to raise money for children with cancer. My sisters and I sprint through an inflatable obstacle course today in the style of a relay race, attempting to complete it faster than the other chapters. After that, I take part in the Clean City Project, where my sisters and I pick up trash while wearing gloves and stroll around Old Town to improve the surrounding area.
It's dinnertime when we get home from volunteering. We have a chef in the sorority house who makes us lunch and dinner; tonight, we had stir fry and teriyaki chicken. But my favorite part was dessert, because you can never go wrong with a build-your-own ice cream sundae. One of my favorite aspects of living in the house is having a chef who prepares a range of wonderful snacks and meals for us. Every day is different, but my favorite meal is always spaghetti.
Personal Time and Wellness (6:30-7:15)
Having some time for myself after a demanding day of mingling, activities, and classes is necessary. I unwind and watch TV around this time—my favorite show is “Shameless.” Having this time is crucial for keeping a good balance between my personal and academic lives.
Evening Unwind (7:30 P.M. - 9:30 P.M.)
Before I can fully relax for the rest of the evening, I double-check that all of my assignments that are due that day have been handed in and completed. Then I take a shower and spend time with my roommates. I head downstairs with the other house girls to watch “Dancing With The Stars.” I feel successful when I look back on my day and see that I was productive and got things done that I needed to.
Being a student at UMD is both demanding and gratifying; I can pursue my academic interests and participate in engaging and enthusiastic social activities while also taking care of my well-being. It's a fulfilling life, and I wouldn’t have it any other way.