Time management has always been a struggle for me. A main contribution to my constant juggling routine is a combination of my indecisiveness and my strive to always please everyone.

Since childhood, I have always been the peacemaker between my friends and the designated planner. These traits have carried on throughout college and have even expanded to include designated relationship counselor (ironic considering I am the single one of the group).

Lately, I find myself endlessly apologizing to someone for never being around. It is hard sometimes to make the judgment calls between being a good friend or a good student.

Despite my busy schedule and the accusations of all my friends, I have always tried to put those I care about above school and work. I have done my fair share of de-boyfriending rooms (removing gifts and pictures from frames) and skipping studying and sleep to lend a shoulder to cry on. I have spent hours on end in a hospital waiting room during finals week and even walked out of work just to ensure promised attendance at special celebrations for friends. Many times I have even skipped out on my family, breaking plans to instead be there for a friend.

Breaking up catfights at the bar between two girls over “DJ 7th year senior” or working damage control at a party split down the center like a junior high dance because you’ve mistakenly set two friends up and it didn’t work out, often don’t turn out to be the best Saturday nights, but sometimes need to be chalked up in the name of friendship.

Through it all, I have not only learned this semester you can’t please everyone, but the true meaning of the saying “if you give them a foot, they’ll take a mile.”

Often I find myself trying to take everything on at once instead of choosing, just so no one is disappointed or feels unimportant. Since I was a little kid (and I hate to admit even now), I am the worst decision maker. I cannot even decide what to order at a restaurant, let alone choose between friends.

So I do not choose. I have zombied through the day many times which only exhausts me and provides no benefit to anyone else, all for trying to take on everything at once instead of choosing.

This has made me begin the countdown to graduation sooner and dread college life altogether.

Though it is important to be there for friends, it is also important to look out for your own enjoyment. It’s hard to enjoy anything while always worrying if others are having a good time. Through all the chaos, enjoy college experiences and try not to be so concerned with everyone else.

For the other over-worriers and time-jugglers, my advice it this: don’t kill yourself trying to please everyone; take time to rest and do what is important to you. If they are true friends they are there for the long run anyway.

Also, I am guilty like many of getting caught up in the focus or work and activities which help in finding a job after graduation, forgetting that your work will speak for itself and employers do not expect you to be killing yourself or your social life just to gain experience. They would rather see well-rounded graduates.

After the monumental college stresses of classes, work and equally distributing time between campus friends, I look forward to a care-free Spring Break with my family and friends from back home; time with the people that know me best.

As for those on the receiving end of the time-jugglers, my advice is simple: demonstrate patience and understanding of friends with others commitments. A friend of mine put it best, though rather juvenile: “tell them to make like a Kit-Kat and give you a break.”

Between all the coursework, summer jobs and internship, there are experiences and friendships we take for granted and may never have the opportunity to either have again or keep for the future. Students should be involved on campus, but also enjoy the life they work so hard to balance.