Student Blog: A Monday in My Life at Fordham University

A couple of years ago, when I was initially deciding which school to attend, I heavily considered what a day in the life of the students at that school would look like. At Fordham, with two campuses, as a Rose Hill student pursuing a theatre minor, my day-to-day looks different than most, so I thought I would detail a Monday in my life to hopefully give people a better understanding of life at Fordham!

7:00 AM:

I begin my day at 7 when my (very loud and very obnoxious) alarm goes off in my dorm, and I wake up. I share a dorm with my lovely roommate in a double with a bathroom in Fordham’s O’Hare hall, so luckily, as a sophomore, I don’t have to use communal bathrooms! I typically wake up around 7 and get ready for the day, putting on makeup and a cute outfit for my NYC adventures, and making sure that my computer, watch, and phone are charged and in my tote bag, ready to head to class. My absolute essentials for class are my computer, notebook, a pen, and, typically, my Alani energy drink for an early class. Usually, I get ready for the day in about an hour after waking up and feeling ready, and then I head to the Lincoln Center Campus on the Ram Van (our between-campus transit system) for my first class of the day.

8:30 AM:

On Mondays, my class begins at 10 at the other campus, so I always catch an 8:30 AM van to give myself enough time to make sure I’m not late. Our vans can take anywhere from ~25 minutes to a little over an hour to go between campuses, depending on the time of day and the traffic! At this time, I’ve found they take about 50 minutes, so taking a 9 am van would be cutting it too close. When I take the 8:30 van, I always have time to grab a bite to eat before class, which is great. On the van, I typically read texts for class or listen to music, depending on what I have on my to-do list that day. I find this time very peaceful and a good way to get in the mindset for class; the commute doesn’t bother me at all. When I arrive, I usually head to either the cafeteria or Saxby’s, an on-campus coffee shop, and grab breakfast. This gets both my mind and body ready for my day!

10:00 AM: 

At 10 in the morning on Mondays, I have my first class. This semester, this is my Global Theatre History: Evolutions of the Present course. Global Theatre History is a two-course sequence that Fordham requires for Theatre majors and minors, and I have really enjoyed the classes so far and the things I have learned! Evolutions of the Present is the second course in this sequence. It is very conversation-based, with few lectures. We all get to discuss our own perspectives and opinions on historical texts, theories, and developments in theatre, and even present on plays and be able to teach the class ourselves. This semester, I presented on Suzan Lori-Parks’ “In the Blood,” and last semester, I presented on Bertolt Brecht’s “Antigone,” both of which helped me grow my presenting skills as well as theatrical knowledge.

11:15 AM:

My first class wraps up at 11:15, and this is my only class of the day on Monday! Most days I have 2 classes, but I got lucky with my Monday schedule and Wednesday schedule (where I get a day to study and rest). However, my academic day is not done yet! After my class, I sometimes take a walk around Central Park or Lincoln Center before heading to my next obligation, and that is often when I call my family to keep them updated! I am incredibly close with my family and try to call as often as I can to keep them posted on my college adventures. It is always nice to catch up. My 45-minute break here is a great time to do that. Sometimes I also go to the library to work on assignments.

12:00 PM:

After my walk or library time, it is time to head to my Costume Shop Lab Hours shift. At Fordham in the theatre department, we need to complete either 5 semesters (major) or 3 semesters (minor) of theatre practicum lab hours, and this semester, mine are in the costume shop. Each semester consists of 48 lab hours (or 30 with a mainstage assignment) in the shop you are assigned to, plus one show strike. For me, I complete these in 2-hour shifts on Mondays and Thursdays from 12-2. These shifts can take many forms, as you are often sent on different tasks and even out into the city to do returns or shopping for costumes. You also might be asked to work on alterations, costume fittings, stock organization, or skill building, among other things. I have done all of the above this semester in the costume shop!

2:00 PM: 

I wrap up lab hours at 2, and I am done with my classes and labs for the day. At this time, I usually choose to spend a while in Manhattan while I’m already there and take a walk or run errands! Sometimes I go to Trader Joe's for food, Barnes and Noble or the Drama Book Shop, and a lot of the time I go to Target and get necessities. I always, if it’s nice out, walk around Lincoln Square or Central Park and enjoy the weather in New York. I also love to go to the box offices in the theatre district to try to get a last-minute rush ticket for a show, if I can!

5:00 PM: 

When I finish errands, if I’m not going to a show that night, I either take the ram van or the train back to Rose Hill! I love taking the train at this time because it’s quicker than the van at rush hour, but I do both. When I get back from the train, I typically go to the library or McShane, our student center, to do my homework.

7:00 PM: 

Around 7, I head to one of our dining locations to grab dinner, typically Urban Kitchen or the Marketplace, but I also like Cosi and Dagger Johns. Sometimes I meet up with friends for dinner, but I also like my alone time some days!

8:00 PM:

When I finish dinner, I head back to my dorm, and either do homework, laundry, clean, or work on a personal project. I have a lot of hobbies, and I love scrapbooking and crocheting in the evening to unwind and destress! I also always talk to my roommate about our days and occasionally listen to music or watch a TV episode. 

11:00 PM:

Around 11, I usually get ready for bed and take a shower, making sure everything is ready for my classes the next day!

I hope this glimpse into my life helps you understand my everyday life at Fordham University!