Lily Herman is a senior at Wesleyan University. She is the co-founder of The Prospect, the world’s largest student-run college access organization.
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When people think about college students founding companies and businesses and initiatives, they immediately think of Mark Zuckerberg or Bill Gates trapped in a garage somewhere, constantly working and being anti-social. Truth be told, some of that does exist, but from my vantage point, most college-aged founders have lives.
So, what does a typical day look like when you’re working full-time at your studies and a business? Here’s what I’m up to on any given day as I get my schoolwork done, work for multiple publications at once, and build my company, The Prospect.
6:00 AM: I’m up bright and early to answer emails before I head to the gym. Because of my work on The Prospect and efforts for for several other companies, I need time to make sure I didn’t miss anything when I went to bed the night before.
7:00 AM: Gym time is the best time, am I right? Most of my college peers aren’t even up yet, but any campus has a crew of hardcore early morning gym-goers, and I’m proud to be one of them.
8:30 AM: Shower, eat, and answer more emails. This is also the time I start working through items on my to-do list and review notes before class.
10:30 AM: Time for class! I usually have my handy dandy laptop at me at all times, but I turn off my email and social media accounts so I can focus on academics. I’ll even turn on the Self Control app to keep me focused).
12:30 PM: I grab a quick lunch with friends to relax before any afternoon classes.
2:30 PM: Out of class for the day. I hop on the computer to catch up on emails, finish up and to-do items for my non-academic work, and get started on homework.
5:30 PM: I hit up a popular campus eatery with friends for dinner and then head to a friend’s house, where several people are hanging out watching and analyzing an episode of Game of Thrones. My computer is off, and I’m relaxing.
7:30 PM: I head home to finish up any last emails, get some class reading done, and starting outlining a paper due early next week. And if it’s a Wednesday, I take a break at 8:00 PM to watch Survivor, my favorite show (yes, it’s still on).
11:00 PM: I’m a grandma, so I’m usually in bed by midnight on weeknights. A founder need her shut-eye right?
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