A day in the life of a JMU Graduate Student
News
SUMMARY: Dardanë Halimi, a second-year grad student at JMU, manages a full schedule of classes, work, and internships. She shares how she finds balance and growth through the challenges of grad school.
Hi, I am Dardanë Halimi, a second-year international grad student in the Writing, Rhetoric and Technical Communication (WRTC) program at JMU. I am going to share a typical day as a graduate student. Along with attending classes, I have a graduate assistantship (GA) and two internships, so my days can get pretty busy!
I usually wake up between 6 and 7 a.m., depending on how many times I hit snooze! I then start my morning skincare routine and get ready for the day. I very much look forward to my morning coffee every day! While making breakfast I FaceTime my family or friends. This helps me start my day and reminds me that I am supported, even from afar!
Before I head out, I check my calendar and to-do list to keep track of the projects for my GA, internships, and assignments. Most mornings, I head to my GA office.
During lunch, if any of my friends are free, we grab something to eat together and make plans for the weekend. These moments help me take a breath and enjoy my day more as a graduate student.
My classes are in the afternoon. Between classes, I make the most use of my time by continuing my GA work, conduct internship meetings or work on internship projects. Depending on the day — some are busier than others!
After classes, I either find a spot on campus, a coffee shop, or head home. If I do not have any meetings, I get back to my internship work and then focus longer on class assignments. I set aside time in the late afternoon or early evening for class readings and assignments. It is not always easy to fit everything in but finding that focused window helps me stay on top of my coursework and be prepared. Whether I spend more time on class readings and assignments or focus on other responsibilities for the week, depends on the week’s deadlines and priorities.
I split my hours for each internship throughout the week. I usually focus on one internship each day so I can do give my best into the tasks without feeling too scattered. It helps me stay focused and makes the workload feel more manageable.
Evenings fly by, and sometimes it feels like I have too much to finish. But then, I remind myself I can always pick up where I left off tomorrow. I am not performing a surgery, after all!
Before bed, I take some time to relax. I will either scroll through social media or watch an episode of the show I am into for the month. Lately, I have gotten into the habit of staying up late (not a good idea, I know). I always tell myself I will catch up on sleep over the weekend.
This is what a normal day looks like for me! There is a lot going on, but I get through it by staying organized and taking things one at a time. Every day is a little different, but that keeps things interesting for me!
I feel lucky to have the chance to experience this and make the most out of my grad studies. Living and learning in a new culture has been amazing! I have grown a lot! I have learned to adapt and found strengths I did not know I had. The moments where I learn and see my work come together make it all worth it.
