How to Balance Life and School: Tips for SCC Students

At Spartanburg Community College, we know that college isn’t your only commitment. Many of our students are working adults, parents, people in the middle of a career change, or those who are juggling multiple roles every day. Pursuing higher education can already be intimidating enough, but add on all the extra stress that life already has and—phew—it can suddenly seem impossible. The good news is that whether you're attending classes on-campus or online, finding the right balance between life and school is possible with the right tools and mindset, despite how challenging it might seem.

Here are some practical tips to help you thrive at SCC while keeping your life in balance.

1. Set Clear Priorities

When you're managing work, family, and school, time becomes your most valuable asset. Start by identifying your top priorities each week. There are several ways to identify and manage your priorities and responsibilities.  

You could use a planner or digital calendar to block off time for classes, assignments, work shifts, family time, and self-care. It is essential to begin scheduling out your day; even activities that you normally wouldn’t think twice about, like how long you are going to watch TV at night before bed. At SCC, many students find success by treating school like a job—setting regular hours for studying or homework and sticking to them.

Another tool you could try using is an Eisenhower Priority Matrix. Think of it like a super to-do list. Instead of a to-do list that lumps all of your tasks together, a priority matrix separates them into sections that help you visualize which tasks are, well, a priority. By putting your tasks into sections that are marked urgent/not urgent and important/not important, you will have a better understanding of which tasks you should do now, which you should schedule for a later time, which you should delegate to others, or which you should delete from your list altogether. You can find more information at this handy link: https://asana.com/resources/eisenhower-matrix.

2. Use SCC’s Student Support Services

Another important key to balancing your life and your education is to remember that you’re not in this alone. Everyone who works at SCC has, at some point, been in shoes similar to your own, so they get what you are going through. There are not only people who are available to talk to you, there are also plenty of support systems built into the college to help you succeed. Student support at Spartanburg Community College is built around your needs.

• Struggling with time management or assignments? Our tutoring center can help you get organized and more equipped to handle your assignments.
• Need help with food or basic needs? Chaser’s Pantry offers free food and other supplies to students.
• Looking for professional clothes or career advice? Check out the Career Closet and Career Services for professional attire and career development.
• Falling behind in classes for any number of reasons? SCC has Success Coaches available to many students! Coaches help students navigate academic and financial challenges, build essential skills, and stay on track to graduate.
• Feeling overwhelmed? Counseling and support services are available at no cost.

3. Take Advantage of Flexible Scheduling

Not all schooling takes place in the traditional classroom setting at the “regular” times we are all used to. SCC’s flexible class options include online, hybrid, and evening courses. This means you can create a schedule that works around any of your responsibilities—a job, childcare, home maintenance, healthcare, etc.

Whether you’re earning a degree in nursing, welding, business, or public health, there’s likely a class time that fits your life.

4. Study Smarter, Not Harder

Finding time to study can feel difficult, so it is important to know how and when to study, so that you are using your time to its fullest potential. 

It is also important to know what studying is and isn’t. Studying isn’t just reading or re-reading the material you had for class. Annotating your notes is a good way to keep your attention on your studies, but not a good way to keep the information in your brain. Here are some ways to help transfer your knowledge from short term to long term memory:

• Create your own study guide or quiz.
• Teach your material to someone else (both someone who knows the information already and someone who doesn’t).
• Identify examples that apply to your own life and experiences (this can be hard for abstract things, but it is great practice).
• Create a concept map that helps you visualize the material.
• Break down the material in a way that can help you understand the process of how it works: What is the question posed by the instructor/author? What is the evidence that they present? What is the conclusion? (How did they draw that conclusion? Do you agree or disagree? How does the conclusion connect to other information you know in and out of the field?)
• Write a summary of the material in your own words.

Make sure you create a designated time and place for studying (if you can help it). If there are moments, however, that you can take advantage of, do it! Make use of the little moments—study flashcards during lunch breaks or listen to recorded lectures while commuting. Use SCC’s library resources, online tools, and even study groups to stay on top of your coursework without overloading your schedule.

5. Build a Support Network

Whether it’s your classmates, instructors, or SCC’s faculty and staff—surround yourself with people who support your goals. Join a student club, talk to your advisor regularly, and don’t hesitate to ask for help. Surrounding yourself with people who are driven, who have the same mindset and goals as you, is always a great way to make the work of school feel a little bit less like work.

Remember, Spartanburg Community College is a place where your success matters—inside and outside the classroom.

Conclusion

Balancing life and school obviously isn’t easy, but often, the most difficult things to accomplish are usually the ones worth doing. SCC’s resources and community are designed to help you succeed. Whether you're an adult learner returning to college or starting fresh after high school, you can reach your goals—one step at a time.

If you’re thinking about enrolling or need support along your journey, visit sccsc.edu or stop by one of our campuses. Your success starts right here at Spartanburg Community College.