Real College Life with Ellie | Southwest Baptist University
Ellie Kitchin is finishing her last semester of exercise science at Southwest Baptist University in Bolivar, Missouri, studying in silence, keeping her room clean before she can focus, and running on chocolate. Last collegiate track season is ahead of her. Most of her friends are living right there with her.
Her answers are the kind that make you actually think about your own routines. She is not trying to do everything perfectly, she just knows what works for her and she actually does it. Faith, movement, a good digital to-do list, and four years at one of the most close-knit campuses in southwest Missouri.
Meet Ellie Kitchin, Exercise Science Major at Southwest Baptist University
If you have been trying to figure out a college routine that actually sticks, her approach is worth reading.
If planning and staying organized is something you are working on right now, the Sunday reset guide on Happyologie is a good place to start.
What's your name, what are you studying, and what's your current vibe this semester?
My name is Ellie Kitchin, and I am an exercise science major at SBU. This is my last semester of undergrad so the vibe is bittersweet.
Study Setup: Describe your ideal studying setup. Where are you, what's around you, what are you using?
I work best at a desk. I don't need to go anywhere special, my own room works great. But my room has to be clean! Depending on the assignment, I may use my monitor for an extra computer screen.
Focus Fuel: Are you a silence person or playlist person when you study? What's your go-to "locked in" music?
I typically study in silence. I get distracted by any kind of music, even if it is instrumental. I can block out outside noise pretty well. I attribute that to growing up with four siblings.
Snack/Drink: What's your must-have study snack or drink?
Chocolate! It's like a reward.
Reading: What are you reading right now, or what's a book you always recommend?
I just finished Home Front by Kristen Hannah. I tend to read historical fiction and fantasy.
Planning: How do you plan your week in the way that works best for you?
I have a digital to-do list that I can access from both my phone and computer. This way I can add a task to my list as I think of it. I am able to assign specific tasks to a day of the week. This helps me to spread out the workload and keep track of assignment due dates.
Routine That Works: What's one routine that actually helps your life feel more steady?
Exercise must be a part of my day. It gives me a break from school and work. It is so beneficial for both physical and mental health.
Non-Negotiable Habit: What's a habit you need in your life to feel like you?
Time in God's word. Whether this is reading through a book of the Bible or reading through the guided scripture in the Bible app.
What do you do when you're stressed but still have to show up?
I prioritize the things that are most important. Of course, I would like to do my best, but I also acknowledge that life is more than my to-do list. If I put all my value into my to-do list, I may miss the things in life that bring me the most joy.
What Are You Passionate About?
I am passionate about God and His creation, relationships, learning, exercise (running, biking, weight lifting), travel, and backpacking.
Perspective: What do you wish you knew at 18?
You don't have to know what you are going to do with your life, but you should start building connections and asking questions. You never know where you might find a career that interests you.
Happy Right Now: What are you genuinely happy about right now?
Soaking up every second with all of my friends at SBU. Getting to live with all of my closest friends is such a blessing!
Current Song on Repeat?
I don't really have a single song I listen to. But I alternate between worship, folk, and I have really been liking my Red Hot Chili Peppers playlist.
Favorite "Reset" Thing to Do?
Light my candle. It really makes me feel more productive haha.
Current Fixation Drink/Snack/Meal?
Chocolate milk and M&Ms.
One Thing You're Looking Forward to This Semester?
The rest of my very last collegiate track season ever.
On Non-Negotiables and Knowing What You Need
okay so the thing about Ellie's answers that got me is how much she just knows herself.
Her room has to be clean before she can study. Exercise is a non-negotiable every single day. Time in scripture is the habit that makes her feel like her. She is not trying to figure this stuff out, she already has. Four years of paying attention to what actually works will do that.
The thing she figured out is not a new app or a fancy method. It is just knowing what her brain and body need and actually building her days around it. Ellie is an exercise science major so she literally understands the connection between moving your body and how well your brain works. She is not just saying exercise helps because it sounds good. She knows the why. And that is why it is a daily thing for her, not a sometimes thing.
Her answer about stress got me too. When everything is piling up, she does not try to power through all of it. She figures out what actually has to happen and lets the rest wait. And she genuinely believes life is bigger than her to-do list. That is a hard thing to hold onto when you are in the middle of a tough semester.
If you are trying to build a study setup that actually works for you, the Happyologie guide on creating a productive study environment is worth checking out.
What Is Exercise Science and What Does Southwest Baptist University Offer?
Exercise science is basically the study of what physical activity does to your body. Think human physiology, biomechanics, sports medicine, rehab. Students in this major at Southwest Baptist University in Bolivar, Missouri, graduate ready for careers in physical therapy, athletic training, personal fitness, strength and conditioning, and a lot more in the health space.
What do people have to say about SBU?
SBU is a private Christ-centered university with a 10-to-1 student-to-faculty ratio and a campus that pretty much everyone describes as feeling like a family. Small class sizes, professors who actually know your name, a tight-knit community in southwest Missouri. For an exercise science major who also runs track and lives with her closest friends, that environment clearly means a lot. You can hear it in basically every answer Ellie gave.
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