As a college student, I am always short on time for almost everything, and I am going to guess that it is the same for you. We usually complain about how busy we are and that we don’t have enough time for this or the other. However, we all know that it isn’t entirely true; we probably just don’t care enough about the person or thing to spend our time on it.
In Spanish, we have this phrase “uno siempre tiene tiempo para lo que quiere,” which can be translated as “you always make time for the things you want,” or “you always find time for what you care about.” While each translation changes a little, its significance stays the same. The phrase alludes to how we are the ones who decide how and on what we spend our time.
However, not just as college students but as humans, we all have biological necessities such as sleeping or eating, and obligations like going to classes or working, which we have to spend our time on. Yet since these things don’t take all of our time, we still have to decide how to spend the rest.
Over the past month, I have been studying mathematics for an hour or more each day because I need to take the Placement Math Test to enroll in the math class I need to fulfill the general education credits. I’m a junior, and I have been postponing that test for two years. During the last two summers, I told myself, “I have so much free time, I can study a couple of hours per day, and then at the end of the summer, I should be able to take the test and get the score I need.” But as you can imagine, I never did, and it clearly wasn’t because I didn’t have time; it was because I didn’t care enough.
So, isn’t it funny that now, while I work 20 hours per week and must go to classes and do homework, I have found time to study math? And that’s not all; I also go to the gym at least three times per week, cook two to three meals per day every week, and spend an hour practicing poetry every Friday as I am part of a ministry. But somehow I still managed to include math time in my everyday schedule, even when I am already very busy and have almost nonexistent free time. That is because now taking the math exam has become more important in my list of priorities for two reasons: the first is that I don’t want to spend more money; my access to the platform is ending soon, and second, I don’t want to let more time pass by.
This situation also reminded me of the phrase, “time is money,” and I completely agree with it now. But time also shows how much you value something or someone. For example, since I love my parents, I always find/make time to call my mom or my dad for at least five minutes, even on super busy days when eating becomes an option rather than a priority. I also make time to play video games with my roomie and my sister, as well as to read for pleasure. I make time to watch TV series, movies and anime. I have realized that when I care about something or someone, I can make time and rearrange everything to create space.
At the same time, when I don’t want to do something, or I don’t want to go somewhere, I use the excuse of not having enough time. That’s when I realized that it is true: you find time for what matters to you. Well, I don’t care that much about math, but I do care about my education and money. Besides, I “need” to take the class. So, needing something is also what pushes you to spend time on a specific subject or not. However, sometimes laziness and our preferences win against our priorities and necessities.
So, I ask you: How are you spending your time? What are your priorities today?
The Student Movement is the official student newspaper of Andrews University. Opinions expressed in the Student Movement are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of the editors, Andrews University or the Seventh-day Adventist church.