My name is Kenzie Abodeely and I am a junior from Toledo, Ohio. I am a communication design major with a double minor in digital marketing and general business. I am a member of Miami’s nationally-ranked dance team and hold a job as a social media specialist in the Division of Student Life. As an upperclass student, I also live off-campus in a house with four other dance team girls.
During the fall 2022 semester, I am taking special topics studio (ART 455), social media marketing (IMS 418), digital photography (ART 255), digital branding (IMS 419), and history of design (ART 455). Let me take you through a typical Thursday in my life here at Miami University!
Thursday, November 3, 2022
7 a.m.: I set my alarm earlier than usual today because I’m registering for spring semester classes this morning! My time ticket opened at 7:10, so for 10 minutes I checked, rechecked, and then checked again to see how many seats were open in the classes I wanted.
7:10 a.m.: Registration is open and I input all of my class numbers. Unfortunately, the advanced writing course I wanted was full. I submit a quick ROR (Registration Override Request) and within two hours, I was manually added to the class. This situation is completely normal, so I tried not to panic. And there are so many alternative options you can explore if you’re really in a pinch, so don’t worry!
7:30 a.m.: Since I was already up, I decide to get my day started with some homework for my social media marketing class I had due later in the day.
8:20 a.m.: My four housemates and I are all on the dance team and we go to the gym on Thursday mornings to get our out-of-practice workout in for the week. I throw on some workout clothes and a sweatshirt, fill up my water bottle, and head out the door.
8:30 a.m.: We arrive, park, and head into the Rec to do arms, abs, and cardio.
9:45 a.m.: We walk back out to the car to pick up the mobile Starbucks we ordered from the uptown store. One of my housemates has a class at 10:05 a.m., so we drop her off at her building before we head home.
10:15 a.m.: I arrive back home and take a quick body shower before scrambling some cheesy eggs and making toast. After cleaning up the kitchen, I get myself ready for my day of classes. I get dressed and pack my bag with class materials and some snacks.
11:15 a.m.: The weather is pretty warm today, so I start my 20 minute walk to campus for my first class at 11:40 a.m. This class is digital photography (ART 255) and it is one of the elective courses I could take for my communication design major.
11:40 a.m.: I am in the Art building and ready to start class. Today was a work day for our group project that we are presenting next week. Our presentation topic is portraits!
2:25 p.m.: Art studio classes are lengthy, so I just get out of class. I start walking to Farmer School of Business for my last class of the day, digital branding.
2:50 p.m.: I make my way up to the second floor and sit down ready for lecture. After the lecture part of class, there was also an in-class case study focusing on analyzing the performance of an email campaign.
4:10 p.m.: One of my housemates ends her day in Farmer at the same time as me, so we meet up outside the building to walk home together every week.
4:30 p.m.: We arrive home and I eat a quick snack before finishing some homework and work projects for Student Life. This time in between class and dinner is typically very productive for me since I feel motivated after a long walk home.
6 p.m.: I make a package of Knorr cheddar and broccoli pasta for dinner. We have a panini press in our house, so I melt a ham and cheese sandwich in there too.
6:50 p.m.: My house piles into one of our cars and we head off to practice at Phillips Hall.
7 p.m.: Practice starts and we do a workout, stretch, and technique tonight. Our practices typically end at 10 p.m., but our Nationals pom choreographer is coming tomorrow, so we end the night early in preparation for a long weekend.
9:15 p.m.: We get back home and everyone cycles through taking showers.
10:15 p.m.: Everyone goes downstairs to hangout, watch The Princess Switch on Netflix, and finish homework together before we all head off to bed.
Midnight: After a long day, I get into bed and set my alarm for the morning to do it all again tomorrow!
One of my favorite things about college is that no day is ever the same! Besides a structured class schedule, it is up to you how to spend your free time. There are so many places to go, events to attend, and clubs or organizations to get involved in to personalize your Miami experience. Granted, this was one of my busier days in my week, but don’t let that scare you, it’s not always like this. There’s no doubt you’ll find your way at Miami that will allow you a balanced academic, social, and future professional life!
– Kenzie Abodeely, Class of 2024
