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Surviving College:
Students Tell How They Do It
by Carissa Rice
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Carrie Murry doing homework
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How do Mars Hill students survive college and then do it well? From athletes to music majors to sorority sisters, all students must learn to balance classes and obligations with assorted relationships and college life. Some do it all! So how do they do it?
Just as Mars Hill students come from all walks of life, they also have different ways of reaching their goals.
Some say procrastination never helps when it comes to schoolwork, and that coming prepared into any situation is essential. Others find that flying by the seat of their pants is sometimes beneficial when it allows them to relax and forget daily pressures.
Many keep a daily planner to help with time management. Some say it is also important to take breaks and time away from campus, whether by taking walks or watching a movie with friends.
For numerous students, understanding their own priorities--and having their faith to fall back on--has also ensured success.
But successful students do have one thing in common. Whether they are cheerleaders, residential assistants, athletes, or simply active students of Mars Hill College, they place a top priority on their education. Ultimately, they say, education equals success--driving them to commit to college, conquer obstacles, and achieve their dreams.
Below, eight successful students share their secrets.
Carrie Murry
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"I always have the Grace of God every day, and the foot of the Cross…that's the best place I have to come back to."
-Carrie Murry
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Junior Carrie Murry, a social work major, maintains above a 3.5 grade point average and minors in music. She is an outfielder for the Lion's Softball team, a sister of the Gamma Chi Epsilon Sorority, and a leader of the Fellowship of Christian Athletes. Murry also sings in the college choir, takes voice lessons, has been named the Delta Kappa Theta Rose Queen, and regularly attends campus activities. For her internship last semester, she worked with Madison Middle School students after school in a program called Support Our Students. She also tutored Mars Hill students in Math 101 last fall.
"I make sure I have time for everything," she says. For her that means school work, softball practice, and several obligations. She tries to look at the big picture, looking at the day ahead of her and trying to determine what needs to be done and what must be done first.
"I get the important stuff out of the way…Then I fill in the rest of my day from there," she explained. She aims to avoid procrastination. Sometimes she even wakes up earlier in the day so that she may devote more time to God and accomplish more.
Studying in groups and individually has helped Murry prepare for quizzes and tests. Groups aid her when she is given the opportunity to "explain the concepts" of the material and compare notes with friends-helping her understand the information better, she said. However, she says she has also found success in studying independently.
While it is important to concentrate on education, Murry suggests that it is also important to have a social life and stay involved on campus. "I always have lots of different activities to do. At night, I have my time…I can do whatever else I want or need to do," she said with a relaxed smile before resuming her Bible study.
Finding time for Christ and always making God her main priority "just makes my day more effective," she said. While her education is important, she says, her faith comes first. "I don't know how anyone makes it without God."
Frank Beacham
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"When things get too much, just getting away helps."
-Frank Beacham
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Junior Frank Beacham, a chemistry major, carries a heavy work load every semester. He is the teaching assistant and lab assistant for the chemistry department. His primary concern on campus, besides his classes and homework, is the college's student judicial system. He is the elected Chief Justice, responsible for protecting students' rights and directing hearings for those charged with violating the code of conduct. Beacham also coordinates the Guardian Angel program, which helps freshmen newcomers make the transition from high school to college. He is currently working for 18 credit hours in his classes.
"Time management is a huge key," Beacham says just before rushing off to his office to fulfill his daily duties. He contends that too many college students do not know how to manage their time. "It (college) is a tough balance," he said.
When asked his priorities, Beacham said, "School has to come first." Giving up entire days without much of a break, sacrificing sleep, and becoming friends with "late nights" are the methods he says he must usually choose to accomplish all the tasks at hand-including class work and judicial duties.
"Sometimes I need to just get away from things and from campus," he said.
"I often go for walks, or even just leave campus to go hang out and get away," he said.
Hannah Scruggs
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"It (college) will show you different aspects of life."
-Hannah Scruggs
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Hannah Scruggs, a double major in English and biology, performs with the award-winning Bailey Mountain Cloggers, is a new Residential Assistant in Edna Moore Dorm, and is a student ambassador. The small, brown-eyed freshman is also a Grayson Scholar, which requires her to maintain a cumulative GPA of 3.0 and complete 35 hours of community service each semester. Scruggs is currently taking 18 credit hours.
Conquering those busy days is one of the hardest parts of college, according to Scruggs. "When it comes to time management, even though I might want to do something else, I know I can't because my schoolwork comes first. That's why I'm even at college," she said as she glanced up from her homework.
Scruggs also said that college is a challenge every day-juggling classes, homework, RA duties, and clogging. It is difficult just "keeping my sanity," she said with a light-hearted giggle.
When overwhelmed with college life, she suggests making a list of everything that needs to get done and to do nothing else until the work and obligations are fulfilled or completed. "The best thing to do is to step back from the situation, take a deep breath, sit down, and do it," Scruggs advised. "I actually thrive in stress. It pushes me to get things done."
Most college students must also cope with being away from family and friends back home. However Scruggs, who came to Mars Hill from Spartanburg, SC, finds the new independence to be rewarding. "I like being away from home and having freedom," she says. "It's wonderful."
Chasiti Young
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"I get a little taste of both worlds (college and home)."
-Chasiti Young (right)
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Sophomore Chasiti Young, an elementary education major, hopes to become a teacher. As a Residential Assistant in Edna Moore, she often helps residents with homework and her door is always open to them. She has been a cheerleader during football and basketball seasons. She was also the SGA cheerleader representative last semester. Young is now taking 18 credit hours and carried a similar load last fall.
"I have a book, or a planner…I write every single thing down in there. If I lost that book, my world would fall apart," she admits with a laugh.
Sometimes, however, school and other obligations become too much for Young. When that happens, "I just take a nap," she says with a grin. Getting away from her work by going to the cafeteria or hanging out with friends in their rooms usually helps her relieve stress, she says.
Young, a local who came to Mars Hill from Asheville, will sometimes "go home during the week if it gets to be too much," she said. Not everyone can leave during the week, or even on the weekends, but just getting away is really good sometimes, she explained.
She says she also sets her priorities straight. Education is at the top, she said, but "friends are very important…Even if I had tons of homework, I would still be there for my friends and family if they needed me."
Donía Paynes
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"I try to set time a time for everything and determine what to give more time to."
-Donía Paynes (right)
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Freshman Donía Paynes, a musical theater major, can dazzle anyone with his strong singing voice. He participates in several musical and theatrical activities on campus, including all musicals and plays. He is the president of the dance team and directs the gospel choir, called the Harambee. He also became a part of Show Stoppers, a musical theater show choir that consists of the top four men and top four women of the department. Paynes is currently taking 22 credit hours this semester, 11 of which are required for his major.
A weekly planner helps him keep up with all of his obligations and activities. "So far it works efficiently," he said. However, the main key to success is "to get sleep, and no matter what, get rest," he says. "For me, as busy as I am, rest is important, whether I get it by sleeping or listening to music to take a break from it all."
Paynes said that he tries to "remain focused." He suggested to "keep your mind on what's important and what needs to get done."
Sometimes that means giving up a lot of free time with friends. "I want to achieve my goals," Paynes explained with a look of determination. "I know I have to make a lot of sacrifices to do that."
He explained, "Foremost is my education. It's really important to me."
Becca Sumerel
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"I decorated my room to make it feel more like home. That's really helped me, to remind me, of who I am and where I came from."
-Becca Sumerel
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Freshman Becca Sumerel, a mathematical education major, can always be distinguished by her laughter and huge smile. The Baptist scholar is a member of Mars Hill's step team, the Christian sorority Iota Chi Alpha, the Fellowship of Christian Athletes, the Christian Student Movement, and the Chapel Choir. This spring, Sumerel will volunteer in a homeless shelter to complete the 35 hours of community service required each semester to keep her scholarship.
According to Sumerel, planning out the day beforehand is one method she uses to get through college. "Sometimes I write up my goals…I try to do my homework early," she says.
"I always make time for God throughout the day," she said. "He comes first…But school definitely comes next after that."
She relieves stress by "doing something for myself," she said. Going the movies, taking long walks across campus, and just taking a break allow her to rejuvenate.
The telephone is a great source of keeping up with family and friends when getting homesick, said Sumerel. Just being away, gaining self-sufficiency, and finding a balance between the two worlds is all a part of attending college. "I like having the freedom and chance to be independent…I enjoy being away, but I'm not too far away from home."
Rocky Oakes
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"I sit back and do what I can…Sometimes you just have to wing it!"
-Rocky Oakes
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Senior Class President Rocky Oakes manages to balance classes with every day meetings and athletics. He is a leader of the Fellowship of Christian Athletes, captain of the cross-country and track teams, and president of the Student Athlete Advisory Committee. Despite his busy schedule, he manages to run the 5000 meters in distance for track, keep up with his other obligations, and maintain a 3.7 GPA.
Oakes says he often finds himself staying up late to make sure everything gets done-including studying and completing homework. "I give up a lot of free time…There's always something to do."
He added, "Sometimes I can't focus, so I find a quiet place to study…I go to the library to study a lot."
"The important thing is that I don't let it (college) stress me out," Oakes says. "You can't panic because that just doesn't help anything."
April Hatten
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"Power naps are your best friends."
-April Hatten (right)
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Junior April Hatten, majoring in athletic training, is a residential assistant for the Brown dormitory, a leader of Fellowship of Christian Athletes, and a member of the step team. She plays for Lady Lion's basketball, and was part of the team last spring when they made their first appearance in the Elite Eight for Division II schools. Hatten must complete 200 hours of athletic training every semester to meet her major's requirements. She is now carrying 19 credit hours, a heavy load for any athlete.
Priorities are extremely important to Hatten, especially when it comes to her faith. "God comes first, and then comes my family and friends," she says. "Classes are important, and school comes before basketball."
To keep her priorities and activities straight throughout the week or day, Hatten usually makes a list of everything she needs to accomplish, including homework assignments, practice times, and meetings.
"I try to take a nap every day, most of the time," she said.
"When I get frustrated I put in a favorite CD or read Scripture. I try to have quiet time for myself," said Hatten. To make sure she doesn't overwork herself, she has gradually learned the importance of taking things slow at times. "I'm getting better at knowing when I've done enough and when I need to go to bed," she admitted.
Hatten came to Mars Hill two years ago and now can say with a voice of experience that to succeed, you should never make the same mistake twice and never make the same mistake you've seen someone else make. "I've learned a lot just from watching other people."
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