College is a time when students have the opportunity to try many different things and join many clubs and organizations. A key to making the most out of a student’s time at college is to find a balance between work, academics, and extracurricular activities.
Sylvianna Colon, a senior public relations major, is an outstanding example of a student who has used her college years to her advantage. Colon is the President of Temple’s Chapter of the Public Relations Student Society of America (PRSSA). She also serves as the Vice President of Pre-Law Society, is a general member of Dare2Dance, and an honors student.
Being involved in various clubs can be very strenuous, and students can get caught up in everything and forget to take care of themselves first.
“I will always advocate for getting involved, but be sure to listen to yourself. No one knows you better than you know yourself,” Colon said. “If you start to get overwhelmed and don’t see the other side, take something off your plate. You should come first. Along with that, get comfortable saying no when you need to.”
However, saying no is different from stepping out of your comfort zone. There are days when it seems almost impossible to get anything done, or feel like you have way too much to do, but it’s important to remember why you are doing what you’re doing.
“I like to think about the other side when things get difficult,” Colon said. “Though times can be hard, there’s always the other side when you’re done with everything you need to do. There’s no way to get over hard times – you must go through them.”
Colon even branched out and studied abroad in London and more recently in Dublin. This opportunity is something that many students at Temple take advantage of because they get to explore a new country and its history and lifestyle.
“The importance of connections and putting yourself out there were two lessons I took from those experiences abroad,” Colon said. “Although I have no plans of moving to Dublin or London as of right now, I have connections with industry professionals abroad in case I want to make that jump.”
Students learn so much about the world, themselves, and their major and what they want to do when they are abroad. To make the most of their trip, Colon suggests researching the destination they are going to and plan what they want to see, where they want to go and what they want to do. Doing so helps ease the struggle of planning accommodations when they get there and waiting around in lines.
To top off all the amazing things that Colon has done, she is even graduating a year early, and will branch out into the world in 2026, not 2027.
“I’m grateful to have had all these experiences at Temple University,” Colon said. “There are so many ways to get involved in the university, Philadelphia, and your career field, and it’s important to take advantage of any opportunity that you are interested in.”
Finding a balance between everything students want to do in college isn’t a straight path. There are ups and downs, stop-and-go moments, and every little thing in between. Keeping yourself organized can be a huge lifesaver, and can help you out in the long run.
As Colon said, putting yourself first can be hard to do, but in the long run it’s one of the best things you can do for yourself.