Real Talk: A Nursing Student at Missouri State
Meet Ayden Crawford, a nursing student at Missouri State University in Springfield, Missouri. She studies at a coffee shop, runs before she lets herself do anything else, and has extremely strong opinions about taking your prerequisites in person (you’ll see). Here’s what her week actually looks like — and if you want a system like hers, start with how to plan your week as a student.
Ayden Crawford, Missouri State University, Happyologie student interview
Meet Ayden, a Nursing Student at Missouri State University
What’s your name and what are you studying?
My name it Ayden Crawford and I’m studying Nursing at Missouri State University.
Describe your ideal studying setup. Where are you, what’s around you, what are you using?
My ideal study setup is at a local coffee shop, typically Mudhouse Coffee. I always get an iced latte and a muffin. I have my computer, my notebook, and my books out and that’s usually all I need!
Are you a silence person or playlist person when you study? What’s your go-to “locked in” music?
I always listen to my indie-folk playlist while I’m studying at home. I don’t listen to any music when I study at a coffee shop, I like the background noise of people talking!
Snack/drink: What’s your must-have study snack or drink?
Definitely coffee and a muffin.
What are you reading right now, or what’s a book you always recommend?
I’m currently reading the Lord of the Rings. I don’t have a go-to reccomendation, usually whatever I’m reading at the time if I like it!
How do you plan your week in the way that works best for you?
I try to stick to a routine that way I can squeeze in all of the things I need to do. School consumes a lot of time, so I always try to get homework done early. That way I have time to study and run without feeling overwhelmed each day. I try to avoid doing any school on Sunday to give myself a break too.
Routine that works: What is one routine that actually helps your life feel more steady?
After class or clinical, I always run before anything else, that way I don’t skip it that day. Then I eat and spend the rest f the evening studying until I go to bed.
What’s a habit you need in your life to feel like you?
I feel best when I run everyday! It helps me relieve stress and gives me a break from school while still working on myself!
What do you do when you’re stressed but still have to show up?
When I’m stressed but still have to show up, I always treat myself to a coffee. I also allow myself to take breaks from things that are stressing me out, like school. Sometimes I just need to take the evening off from studying and relax instead.
What are you passionate about?
I’m passionate about church, my family, and nursing.
What do you wish you knew at 18?
I wish I knew that online prerequisites were a bad idea and it makes nursing school so much harder. Take classes in person!!
What are you genuinely happy about right now?
I’m so happy that I get to accomplish my goals and be supported by my husband throughout it all!
What’s your current song on repeat?
Sedona by Houndmouth
What’s your favorite “reset” thing to do?
My favorite reset thing to do is clean the house. I feel so much better in a clean home.
Current fixation — drink, snack, show, anything?
Dark chocolate chips in vanilla greek yogurt.
One thing you’re looking forward to?
I’m looking foreward to entering my senior year of college and getting one step closer to being done!
Ayden’s Nursing School Routine
I love that Ayden decides ahead of time. Homework early, run before anything else, then study until bed. None of that is a complicated system — it just means she isn’t standing in her kitchen at 4pm negotiating with herself about whether the run happens today.
The other move is the off switch. She doesn’t do school on Sunday. That’s not slacking, that’s the thing that makes the other six days work. Nursing school eats an enormous number of hours, and when every hour is technically available for studying, every hour you’re not studying starts to feel like failing. Picking one day where the answer is just NO takes that whole argument off the table.
And when she’s stressed but still has to show up? She takes the evening off instead of white-knuckling it. If most of your weeks feel like white-knuckling, that’s worth getting ahead of — here’s how to avoid burnout in college before it takes the semester with it.
Want to Be Featured in Real Talk?
Know a student or teacher who belongs in Real Talk? This series runs on real people from real schools — actual routines, actual advice, none of the highlight-reel stuff. If that’s you, or you want to nominate someone (your favorite teacher absolutely counts), send me a message. I’d love to feature you.
