Students gathered Monday for the Student Life and Organizations Workshop, where guest speakers shared practical strategies for balancing academics, involvement in organizations and personal well-being.
Zachary Handlin, coordinator of the Student Government Association and Organizational Development, and Darius Woodfork, assistant director of Fraternity and Sorority Life, led the session.
They drew on personal experience to guide students in managing time, setting priorities, overcoming laziness and holding themselves accountable. Handlin spoke on self-honesty and realistic expectations.
“You have to be brutally honest with yourself. If you know you’re not going to wake up for an 8 a.m., be honest with yourself,” Handlin said.
Woodfork stressed personal responsibility, having once been kicked out of Southern University before earning a 3.0 GPA at Southeastern, and emphasized the need for personal accountability.
“Your friends aren’t going to write that paper for you; they aren’t going to take a test for you. Make sure you’re doing what’s best for yourself,” Woodfork said.
The speakers highlighted that time is the biggest sacrifice in college and organizations. They encouraged students to prioritize, build discipline through good habits and combine time management with consistent routines.
“Balance isn’t about doing everything. It’s about doing the right things,” Handlin said.
The smaller crowd created a conversational atmosphere, allowing students to share thoughts and receive personalized tips.
Students said the advice was more impactful and applicable to their daily struggles. Freshman accounting major Kaia Baker emphasized how the event was helpful for her.
“It was something I needed to hear to put things into perspective on how to be more successful as a college student,” she said.
Sophomore nursing major Kaleb Oby found it “very refreshing” and motivating to stay on top of responsibilities. Freshman supply chain management major Saniah Hogez shared how this talk helped her.
Hogez said, “I felt like this whole event was very productive for me, because I needed help with time management and burning out.”
The workshop reinforced the idea that self-honesty, disciplined habits and smart priorities help students work hard in college while avoiding burnout.
