Student Life Podcast

Elyse Sanders shares her chaotic and hectic life as an Augusta University student, likening it to a circus. Students juggle responsibilities like walking a tightrope, facing setbacks and fears, all while striving to entertain the audience. Despite challenges, resources like academic support and extracurricular activities help them push through and grow. Elyse emphasizes the importance of connections, opportunities, and dedication to the act of pursuing higher education. She highlights the supportive community at AU and her determination to continue the journey towards earning her bachelor's degree. Hi, my name is Elyse Sanders and this is my AU student life behind the scenes podcast. I am a health society and policy major at Augusta University. My life as an AU student is like a circus. It's chaotic and hectic, but I can't slow down. It is chaotic and hectic, but the people are here for the coming attractions. The circus is a show in itself and it slows down for no one. It's walking on a tightrope, feeling like you're falling, it's wanting to give to the circus of the production. You're not even focused on the projection, just the act however needing to continue. In some sense, it's finding fulfillment in this way. It's the act that still goes on and entertainers come again and again. After the chaos is over, the production is done, it's time to do it all over again. The audience has come to see the show, so it must go on. Entertainers push through injuries, fear, and setbacks. They cover up the truth and continue to smile. I'm juggling full-time hours, life, and growth. Walking the tightrope in every step, I feel like I'm falling, managing to stay upright throughout it all, carrying the weight of the elephant, mustering courage for the ring of fire, mindful of the crowd in front of me. The audience is here to see the show, the show that must go on. The show that is worth producing time and time again. All the proud spectators and overseers confident in the production, those who have participated in the act, those who have benefited, those who are in charge of the act now. Past the registrar's office, past financial aid, past parents and professors, past lectures in long, grueling semesters and GPAs, past learning the act, turning for it, and performing it for the first time, to the point of being confident and good, pushing past the injuries, complications, and setbacks. It's also worth coming back to the show to do it all over again. There are experts and informants and guidance to help, the Academic Success Center, academic counseling, and tutors. The library has a host of resources and information. The act is completed in numbers, so many groups and people are united together, all dedicated to the performance, dedicated to the audience. The crowd who shows up, who commits to act, and watches to the end. The fear that comes from learning the act and getting used to it, stepping out in front of the crowd, or walking the tightrope, preparing for the ring of fire, and getting through it. Gaining the confidence, learning how to study, asking for help when you need it, stepping out your comfort zone, learning how to listen to lectures, putting together a schedule, dedicated to the act and everything it entails. As a full-time, I barely get any sleep. Something is always due, there's never enough time. There are times where I feel like I'm wasted and it won't get done. Then there's the other side where I pull through and grow. The act creates connections and opportunities. There's always something to do and somewhere to go. So many resources that help to get it down pat and the struggles it comes with. Counseling services, extracurriculars, clubs, organizations, and Greek life. Volunteer hours, donations, and so much help for others. My day consists of lectures. Class every day except Friday. Outside of that, I have a part-time job. I study and do work in between these times. I'm a parking lot kid. I don't really do anything in school but leave and go home. I did MESA and serve for the underserved. I have a great awareness of demographics and mindfulness at AU. I have a strong sense of different students and dilemmas of those less fortunate. A glimpse of all the different pieces that make up the puzzle of AU. The puzzle of higher education. The puzzle of a bachelor's degree. The puzzle of being young and figuring it out. The puzzle that is yet to be put together in some cases. Sometimes I attend events that allow me to focus on the community. Events that allow me to socialize. Events that don't make the acts so crushing. Events that make me come out. I study in the house. I stay in the house. I'm comfortable in the house. Lectures and interactions with different professors and guidance to the act. AU cares about the little things and details outside of the classroom. This helps to balance the act and give perspective. The beneficiaries and upsides to higher education. Nonetheless, I'm still dedicated to the act. Still showing up for the next show every year until I become the master of my own. Thank you for listening. Augusta University student, Elise Sanders, Health Society and Policy major. Signing off. Signing off from a glimpse into my life as an Augusta University student. The journey in choosing college. The journey in going after a bachelor's degree. The journey in which the show will always go on. Thank you. Thank you.