Today’s Hive Learners prompt asks us how flexible our work life is. Since I’m a student, I’ll answer from the perspective of a student. As a student, my life is like a tug of war, with me holding the shorter end of the rope. Every day, I find myself in situations where I must constantly juggle tasks to create free time for myself. Life as a student can be overwhelming, especially if the school doesn't want you to survive. From going to classes to workloads of assignments, and presentations, and trying to fit in online work (Hive). The struggle is overwhelming. But, what about flexibility? Do I enjoy flexibility in my daily routine? Do I have the freedom to do things on my terms? Well, it is more like a mix of both. Some days, I have no other choice but to follow orders like a soldier following, other days, when school chooses to smile and cut me some slack, I enjoy a tiny bit of flexibility where I get to do things on my own terms.
Typically, my day is filled with activities, making my week rigid and stressful. On Mondays, I have two classes, one from 8 am to 10 am and another from 12 pm to 2 pm. If anything, I love morning classes because the weather is always cool and nice, but having to wake up early can be challenging. Most times, I struggle to eat before going to class. My first class on Mondays ends around am. It is stressful to go back to my hostel and return for the 12 pm class, so I just hang around with friends in empty classrooms. And when there are no empty classrooms, we stay outside under the shade. Eventually, when the class ends, I go home to start my day. That's when I get to cook. Most times, I'm always so stressed when I come back from school that the first thing I do is jump on my bed and sleep. The cycle repeats itself.
Tuesdays and Wednesdays are a bit free. My classes on these days start at 10 am. So, I always have time to wake up early and prepare something to eat. Thursdays classes are the most stressful. That is when we get afternoon classes. Imagine going to school under an unsmiling weather. The sun is scorching, cars are honking loudly and everyone is trying to get to their destinations. In the end, when you get to school, you are sweaty and have to stay still to catch your breath.
Usually, Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays are my free days. One would expect that these days are for enjoyment and rest, but that is when lecturers load us with assignments, books, more books, and presentations. In the end, it is up to you to squeeze up some free time for yourself. School life is really exhausting. Sometimes, I wish I could take a break for two weeks or swap lectures whenever I need to. For instance, if the ropes were in my hands, I’d shift Monday's class to 10 am instead of 8 am. Sadly, things do not work this way.
However, sometimes, my school life becomes easier and less stressful when the routine changes. This is where online classes come in. You see, instead of physical classes, some lecturers prefer online classes. I don’t often join online classes. So, all I do is drop attendance and come back to the notes after the class. Other times, lecturers cancel classes due to reasons best known to them. Online courses and canceled classes are the only flexibility options I enjoy. Trust me, they often come in handy and at the right time.
These flexibility options allow me to enjoy some free time and do the things the way I'd like them. On my free days, I play chess with friends in school. Sometimes, I play football games. Other times, I indulge in stress-free activities like sleeping all day or reading a novel.
In summary, every student struggles to find flexibility. It is like a rare commodity that you have to squeeze in somehow. A student’s life is structured. Between classes, assignments, projects, and presentations, some even struggle to juggle part time jobs. It can be really overwhelming, but it is up to you to find balance. As a student, flexibility does not come freely, it is a thing I squeeze in.
Thanks for reading.
