If you aren’t currently a college student, imagine yourself as one. This, no doubt, conjures some age-old stereotypes, such as walking to class half asleep, hefting a bag of books around campus, camping out at the library to study for a test, or communing with friends over a meal.
These images exist because they typify many facets that college students share, including, of course, Ball State students. But that’s about it—beyond those fundamentals of college life, our students’ experiences are unique to their interests.
Ball State students explore their passions and pursue their goals with rigorous course work and innovative, real-world experiences. This means that often their daily lives differ vastly from the stereotypes. Check out a snapshot of three Ball State students whose daily journeys—distinct to their interests and goals—still allow them to cross paths at the Atrium, the 400-seat food court that is a popular student gathering place.
Moses Jones, class of 2009, begins his busy days early. Living in the Alpha Phi Alpha fraternity house, he leaves for campus by 8:45 a.m. Jones scheduled his day so that his telecommunications and theatre classes are in the morning. He prefers scheduling his classes so that he’s finished by 2 or 3 p.m. to have free time for the rest of the day for other activities. Between 1 and 2 p.m., he takes a break to socialize and eat in the Atrium. Afterward, he leaves campus to tutor at a nearby elementary school until 5 p.m. Jones spends his evenings and nights working out in Irving Gym and attending meetings for the various organizations in which he is involved—the Black Student Association, University Review Board, and the Unity Pageant.
Like Jones, Katie Garringer, class of 2011, says her days are quite busy. Majoring in music education, Garringer attends classes from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., with an hour lunch break. Between class times and band practices, she enjoys stopping by one of three coffee shops—Starbucks inside the Atrium, MT Cup in the Village, and The Bookmark Café in Bracken Library—to relax for a moment and enjoy her daily vanilla latte. Outside of class, Garringer has an active social life and many friends, several from the School of Music. “Since you’re in such close proximity to other musicians, you end up forming really great friendships that will last well beyond college,” Garringer says.
Literature major Jessica Bluemke, class of ’08, never schedules a class before 11 a.m. and has maintained a flexible college schedule. “Simply, I'm not a morning person,” Bluemke says. “I have the luxury of being able to more or less choose which classes I take and when I take them, so I take advantage of it.” Her classes are filled with discussions about books, and she enjoys them. A few days a week, she eats in the Atrium with three close friends. Bluemke spends her free time reading, participating in the Swing Society, and watching her favorite television shows, including The Office.
Although some aspects of college are common to all, the majority of students’ daily routines reflect their freedom to carve out their own path.