Jayme Hoy is a senior at Miami (OH) University in Oxford, Ohio.  An active member of Campus Activities Council, Chi Omega Sorority, and student manager of all campus tour guides on campus, Jayme has built her own life at Miami while being over 2,000 miles from home.  Tag along as we follow her journey throughout her Senior Year.

I am always busy. Even when I feel like I’m relaxing, I’m usually still doing something- checking emails, creating mental to-do lists, thinking about job interviews, running errands, or going out and about with friends. No matter what, I always have a million things racing through my mind. I’ve done such a good job of keeping busy this semester, I didn’t even notice that I’d come down with a mild case of mononucleosis- I just thought I was tired and stressed from a busy semester- as well as a nasty viral cold. It never even crossed my mind I might actually be sick.

Last weekend, after seven consecutive weekends of guests in town, housemate birthday parties, and sorority formals, and in the wake of my mono, I decided to finally take it easy, and do nothing. I literally did nothing for one full day. Turns out, I don’t know what to do with myself when I’m not out with friends, working on a project, or doing job-hunt research.

After a long day of just hanging out and avoiding my computer and my planner, I found myself curled up on the coach reading a book with a glass (okay, two) of wine. I don’t even know the last time I just read a book for fun. And that’s when a strange thought hit me- is this what life post-graduation is like?  Assuming I find myself a job that is somewhat limited to a Monday-Friday work-week and don’t have to take work home with me at night or on the weekends, what will I do with all my free time? Ever since freshman year of high school, I have been so busy and involved with extra-curricular activities and keeping up with my schoolwork, it will be a strange and crazy feeling to have nights and weekends to myself.

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Even after reflecting on this for a few days, I still don’t know what I’ll do with my free time. Of course, it depends on where I end up (I’m looking towards Chicago or New York, but who knows), but hopefully I’ll be in a large city with plenty of opportunities for free or inexpensive activities. No matter where I am, I’m sure I will join the alumni chapter of my sorority, as it will be a good opportunity not only to meet women with whom I have something in common, and it will also provide me with activities to fill my time. From what I hear, many alumni chapters have a book club, go to local events, and continue to support philanthropy events. Besides this, hopefully I will find some other types of activity or group to become a part of. Shoot, maybe I’ll even finally be able to work out more days of the week than not, something that just has never quite worked out in college.

Regardless of where I am and what I’m doing, the end of college will definitely change the time balance in my life. And while I’m sad to leave college, I’m very excited to perhaps have a little more control over my life, in theory anyways. Maybe I’m being idealistic to even think I’ll have this supposed “free time,” but I’m excited to find out what life post-graduation brings.