Live like Serena, Think like Blair: How I Manage School and my Social Life

By: Dakota D. Duran

With my favorite show being “Gossip Girl” since seventh grade, I have quickly embodied the personalities of both Serena van der Woodsen and Blair Waldorf. Like Serena, who is also a Cancer, I aim to live a carefree lifestyle and go with the flow. I like to be an optimist and find the positive in all situations, making sure every time is a good time. However, when it comes to school, I always try to be more like Blair. I strive to maintain a 4.0 GPA, while always having every assignment completed on time. Of course, these two personalities are hard to achieve in college.

I didn’t necessarily struggle with the transition from high school to college, however, I did find myself having a difficult time when it came to finding the balance between my education and my social life. During my freshman year, I found myself procrastinating more than I typically would have in high school and not prioritizing my assignments as much as I should have. When it comes to living on campus and always being surrounded by friends and different events, it is easy to be drawn into peer pressure and choose socializing over school. Once I noticed my grades were struggling, I immediately put in the work to improve them as I knew how important it was to maintain them, especially considering the cost of my education.

Currently, as a second-year student, I feel as though I have found the perfect balance between having fun and keeping up with schoolwork. Not only is it beneficial to my transcript, but I have also found it to be better for my mental health. Here is my perfect recipe for living life like Serena, but thinking like Blair:

1. Google Calendar

While Pinterest holds the #1 spot on my phone for the app I use the most, Google Calendar definitely comes in second place. I use this app religiously, making sure my class schedule and every assignment make their way onto my screen. While Canvas lets me know what work I need to do, I often find it confusing and as if my work is spread everywhere. Attempting to stay more organized, I use Google Calendar and input each and every assignment and when they are due. Professors typically have every assignment for the entire semester written on the syllabus, so at the beginning of the semester, I sat and wrote down every deadline for the months of August-December. This has helped me immensely when it comes to my academics, and it makes it easier for me to know what work I need to complete before I can say yes to plans.

2. Assigning Certain Days for Different Classes/Work

I find myself being one to compartmentalize, and I think it makes it easier for me to manage school and do everything else that I need to do. Throughout the week, I like to set a schedule where I assign classes to certain days, along with other work like internship applications, writing articles, the gym, etc. For instance, I always have Monday, Wednesday, and Friday as my days when I go to the gym, work on my theology and ethics classes, and write articles. On Tuesdays and Thursdays, I do my work for my French and history classes and apply for internships. When you give yourself a routine, it improves your efficiency and reduces stress. Psychologically, it is also proven to make your ability to make decisions easier. I find myself loving routines as it gets rid of any uncertainty about the day and I always know what I need to accomplish once I wake up.

3. Knowing What Type of Learner You Are

There are four main learning styles, which are auditory, reading/writing, visual, and kinesthetic. Once you know what type of learning style fits you best, it makes a difference in how you study. For me, I’m a visual learner, therefore I like learning through PowerPoints, charts, diagrams, and videos. When it comes to my French verb conjugation homework, I always make myself a chart and go over it until it is memorized in my head. If I am in class and I don’t understand the professor’s lecture, I make sure to watch a video or go through the PowerPoint again once I get home. I save myself so much time when it comes to studying as I know which learning style will help me understand the material the best, allowing me to have more time when it comes to hanging out with friends. If you don’t know your learning style, here is a quiz to find out: https://www.learningstylequiz.com/

4. Saying NO

I know how hard this one can be, especially if you are a people-pleasing person like myself. While I still don’t think I have mastered the art of saying no, I feel it has definitely improved since my freshman year. At the end of the day, you have to realize what is most important to you and what you feel matters most. As I value my education, I always make sure this stays above my social life and that every assignment gets done when it is supposed to. For me, it is super important to have discipline, and I always make sure to remind myself what goal I am working towards when I am conflicted about choosing either socializing or doing school work.

In college, I have realized that life is all about balance. School can be overwhelming sometimes, but the hard work pays off. While there is nothing I love more than cosplaying season two Blair Waldorf when she is working towards Yale, I do love having my Serena moment on my nights out.