In balancing involvement and leadership in numerous college organizations, attending classes and holding two jobs, Micah Williams, senior biology and Applied Critical Thought and Inquiry (ACT-In) major, is undeniably a busy individual. While every day for Williams differs as she juggles her positions as secretary of the William Jewell College Student Senate cabinet, president of the Black Student Association (BSA), member of Student D&I, ally of QUILTBAG and Mi Gente as well as employment for two jobs, a Wednesday for Williams could be as follows:

Wednesday Schedule

8:30 or 8:45: Wake up

9:00-10:05: Class 

10:15-11:15: Student D&I meetings (Occur every other Wednesday) 

11:15-12:20: Class

12:30-1:00: Lab work

1:00-1:45: Lunch or working on assignments for the next class

1:45-2:50 Class

3:00-5:00: Job at Student life

5:30: QUILTBAG meeting (Occur every other Wednesday) 

6:30-7:30: Homework

7:30: Prepare for BSA meetings 

8:00-9:00: BSA meeting 

9:00-midnight (time varies and depending on homework, Williams may stay longer): Homework in the PLC 

The rest of Williams’ week is just as hectic as her Wednesday, but this frenzied schedule may not seem all that unusual to a campus where involvement is not only normal but expected. Williams explains that she and many Jewell students would confirm that this pervasive culture of involvement comes as a blessing and a curse. 

“It’s great in terms of finding people that believe in the same things that you do and finding your place in the school, but it’s very easy to get overwhelmed when you take up too many things,” said Williams. 

With the small campus climate and the ample opportunity for getting involved, it is not difficult to become overwhelmed with balancing extracurricular involvement, class and work. Williams explains that it simply is not possible to be involved in everything and you have to decide which organizations mean the most to you.

“If you really want to do something, you will find and make the time for it,” said Williams. 

Williams somehow finds time for the organizations she cares about as well as classes and two jobs, but this balance is by no means easy to handle.

“I handle things with coffee and crying,” said Williams. 

Coffee, crying and long nights in the PLC are often conducive with the typical over-exerted and involved Jewell student, but many students, including Williams, don’t know it any other way. 

“While I am hectically overwhelmed now, a lot of the time if I am underwhelmed then I feel like I have no purpose,” Williams said. “If I don’t have anything to do, I’m like, ‘What do I do with my life now that everything is done?’”

So finding that balance continues, and Williams takes her hectic schedule day by day.