Corey Kindberg

A heavy course load like mine can really take a toll on your sanity. It is a week like the one coming up that I will question if I actually am crazy or not -- the week of midterms.

Not all professors at LIM College will give you a midterm; some will either give a paper or a project. Regardless, it is still just as stressful and just as time-consuming.

Some things I like to do to de-stress from the whole midterm madness are simple inexpensive activities. One thing I love to do is grab a coffee and window shop on Madison. It's truly therapeutic.

I also like to take a short study break and grab 16Handles (the best frozen yogurt) with my friends and just talk! I also like a nice stroll through Central Park if the weather is nice enough.

There is so much to do in New York City for fun that can easily calm you down and won't cost you a whole heap of cash.

With a hefty work load and a part-time job, finding time for yourself can be hard. Unfortunately, I learned this lesson the hard way. Schoolwork can definitely become overwhelming and hard to manage with everything else that's going on.

I strongly recommend to any student or future student to just take a break every now and then. Luckily for me, my hometown is in New Jersey -- just a train ride away. Whenever I have the time I always get out of the city. Even without work and school, staying in the city can be stressful and it's hard to find some time to relax.

This past weekend was spent in Jersey -- a full weekend of rest and relaxation. I spent time with my mother who I missed ever so much and created new memories with friends that I hardly get to see.

Future students and current students take my advice -- go home whenever things are getting stressful.

As much as I would love to sit here and tell you all about how glamorous my life is here at LIM College, I’d rather not lie to you.

Don’t get me wrong, it does have glamorous moments. Such as riding in a town car to Lincoln Center to the Ports 1961 S/S 2011 Show with their Chief Merchandiser, or going out to great dinners in the Meatpacking District with some of my closest friends. But that doesn’t happen all the time.

This week was rather boring due to the large amounts of snow that came down upon Manhattan. You won’t find me complaining though, that meant that I didn’t have to wake up early for class due to the school being closed. Not only high schools get snow days, colleges do too!

This week was spent mostly at Tommy Hilfiger, working my days and nights away. We did our Spring rollout this week. That meant staying 'til about midnight unpacking boxes of new merchandise and placing them in their proper spots and packing old merchandise so it could be shipped off to our Secacacus, NJ outlet store. It was also spent catching up on homework and projects.

I love my school, but please don’t think its all fun and games here. It’s a lot of work and requires a lot of dedication. In the end though, it’s all worth it!

There are a few things I like about Work Project I. One of them is a paycheck. Another is no classes. And then there is the learning experience.

I thought that not having classes during Work Project I would give me enough time to have my social life back. However, working 35+ hours a week doesn't really leave much time for fun. I think every Work Project I student feels the same. We're all working a full-time job and trying to learn as much as we can. That's why a good break is fully appreciated. This Thanksgiving break was probably the best I ever had. I got to have a day off without stressing about work and enjoying time with my family in the Hamptons.

The day after Thanksgiving wasn't as fun. I used to love Black Friday, but working on it isn't so lovable. Picture this, opening the store at seven instead of nine. Lines outside the door and around the block all to receive 30% off. I normally would appreciate another person's devotion to saving a few dollars, but today, I was under different circumstances. I stood for nine hours straight behind a cashwrap dealing with customers of all types. I dealt with snobby fashionistas, bargain-hunting tourists, and all-around loons. I must have rang up a few hundred cashmere sweaters and about a thousand pairs of jeans.

Was it worth it? You bet. I was so proud of myself at the end of the day -- I learned how to deal under pressure. As for Black Friday next year, bring it on!

This past week has ranked as the second-busiest week I have ever had - Fashion Week being first, of course.

My days were spent either in class or working at Tommy Hilfiger on Fifth Avenue. I work five days a week and doing that and also being a full-time student is probably the most difficult thing to manage.

Also on my plate, a huge project due for my Introduction to Visual Merchandising class. Of course I’ve had weeks to do it. Unfortunately, I left it for last minute and rushed to get something done in two nights that I had weeks to do.

I have yet to figure out the whole time management thing that goes along with college, but I think that’s what freshman year is for. If I don’t ever figure it out, well then at least I know I’ll always have my Starbucks.

In high school I was able to wake up at 7:30 and roll out of bed and drive to school. Now, going to school in New York City, it is a completely different situation. Especially going to a fashion school, where every day is an opportunity to show your creativity. "Dress to impress" is the hidden slogan of LIM College. You never know who you’re going to meet at school, or even on the street or when you’re out on your lunch hour.

I get up at 6 on the days I have 8 a.m. classes. I always want to look my best, especially during rush hour. Instead of driving to school or taking the bus, I run to catch the subway and try to squish myself and my bag in a subway car filled with people in suits. Next, I wait in line for my Iced Venti Vanilla Latte, this way I can get through my day, (and this will probably be the first of many lattes).

All of my classes are fun and interesting, and they are in subjects that I want to learn about, so I don’t mind taking notes and reading the textbooks. Then the best part of my day comes, and it’s lunch hour. I get to chat with friends and finally eat a real meal!

The rest of the day is filled with classes, a quick nap, and then, most likely, an hour or so of homework.