The big picture is important. Oftentimes, I use looking at the big picture to calm me down and understand that the little things will add up in time to create what I strive for.

The big picture is what your day-to-day activities’ purposes are. 

For me, I want to be a reporter. 

My day-to-day looks like waking up too early, leaving for class too late, attending class, tending to homework, my part-time job that is really starting to feel like a full-time job, gym, then home. Somewhere in between I eat, drink and breathe.

Taking it day by day is a process that is helpful for me. I sometimes fall off of a schedule and that is when I find myself slacking in classes and gym. 

However, I’ve learned that when I take the time to write in my planner what exactly I need to do every day, I usually end up getting all the things done. It is satisfying to check off the things that I’ve done throughout the day. It is also nice to look back at the week and feel proud of my accomplishments.

I typically try not to be the person to live by a schedule. I am impulsive by nature, and I try to embrace that. However, as a college student, it is quite literally the only way I can keep up with my assignments.

When I graduate, I hope things are a little different. I don’t want to be older and think of my life as a set of tasks.

For now, I look at Monday’s to-do list and I check off each item one by one. Then on Tuesday, I look at my to-do list and check off each item one by one. I do the same for each day of the week until it is Saturday and I wonder where my week has gone.

I will sacrifice feeling like a robot if it means I am excelling in school. This is because while I believe day-by-day thinking is crucial, it is only important because of the big picture.

Because I want to be a reporter when I graduate, I go to my journalism classes. I think about how successful I want to be, and how much potential I have. When I am in Spanish, it is not getting through learning pronouns that motivates me in class; it is the idea of being able to communicate freely with Spanish-speaking individuals. This is an example of why the big picture is important.

I love college, and I love my classes. I love I get the privilege to go to UCA, and I love I get the privilege to make a career out of writing. Taking things day by day takes a toll on me, but it’s all I can do for now.

I suggest others get a planner and check off all the things they have done for the day. Even if it’s simple things like eating. It is accomplishments like these that make me feel best about myself.