The Online Reflector

Senior music and psychology double major Caitlin Deranek is also president of the Indianapolis Student Government, president of the Psychology Club, president of the Psi Chi, vice president of Mu Phi Epsilon, a section leader in the concert choir, a member of the handbell ensemble, a member of the musical group Schola and also holds a job in the Office of Admissions on campus.

If you think that makes for a long sentence, it can make for an even longer day.

“I carefully map out each hour of every day. I schedule other events and obligations just like they are classes,” Deranek said. “When things are written down in ink on paper, I feel much more obligated to do them.”

With so many commitments to manage, it would seem that there’s little time left over for sleep.

“My sleep time is sacred,” she said. “I need seven to nine hours a night, and I rarely do not get at least that much.”
The key, Deranek explained, is maintaining a thorough schedule and sticking to it.

“I keep both electronic and written schedules. Depending on my situation, I sometimes can’t access my online schedule, which I keep through Google,” Deranek said. “So, I keep a written schedule too, and once a week I coordinate to make sure everything matches.”

To-do lists also help Deranek stay on task. She creates lists for each week and coordinates them with her syllabi, work schedule and other commitments.

“Making a list for the entire week gives me a cushion,” Deranek said. “This way, I don’t have to cram. If I have four chapters to read, for example, I will spread that out over five days.”

On top of all the organizations Deranek participates in, she also is enrolled in 18 credit hours of classes. She said that this semester is actually the least amount of credit hours she has ever taken. Some semesters, she has had more than 20.

“Academics take up most of my time. But I base that on the four hours I spend practicing [vocal performance] each day,” she said. “However, academics are followed closely by the amount of time I spend on campus organizations.”

Social time is important to Deranek, and she makes time for it in her hectic schedule each day.

“I plan for an hour for lunch and an hour for every day,” she said. “I did that as a service to myself, to meet up with friends and socialize during the day.”

Although Deranek is arguably busier than the average college student, she thinks getting involved is manageable for anyone, as long as he or she is willing to plan ahead.

“There is a way to get involved and for everybody, if you really want to. It just takes a certain level of dedication to balance the extra activities with the academics,” Deranek said.

She offered two tips for students trying to juggle everything life throws their way.

“First, determine what’s important to you and stick to it. And second, create a to-do list that is manageable, and complete it everyday,” she said.