It's a good thing I've always been a morning person. Junior year of undergrad was suppose to bring the end of 8am classes, however, grad school operates on its own schedule and with it comes Round 2 of the early lectures. Although I wake up in complete darkness for the majority of the semester, the sun (or at least some glimmer of light) manages to greet me before I reach school. I always look forward to my three-quarter mile walk from Kerrytown to SPH- the brisk air assures that I am awake, and it's my time detail the day ahead.

Melissa Cox (far right) with friends and fellow HBHE students Sara and Cathryn

SPH seems alive on Wednesday morning as everyone other than the Epidemiology students gather in the old auditorium for Epid 503. It's the one time of the week we see the faces of the management students in class. I strike up several conversations before the lecture begins, certain to continue on the walk to Crossroads once class has ended. You can hear the rustling of bodies, papers and computers within twenty minutes, but somehow everyone manages to get through it.

As we all disperse for our next classes, I walk over to the cafe among the other fifty people in need of a caffeine boost. My beverage of choice- a black tea- just enough to keep me going on a gray day. The latest information on group projects, weather, the upcoming weekend and meetings can be heard among the conversations of the crowded cafe. After an energizing ten minute break, all of the HBHE first years find their respective places in the seats of Lane Auditorium for 651.

I have a break in my day that becomes less of a break when I insert two hours at work in its place. Luckily, I have a job that I enjoy and co-workers that make coming to work even more worthwhile. I delve through a project, get updates on daily events and schedule meetings all within a two hour time block. Then it's back to SPH for an afternoon seminar. I typically prefer to block my classes together so as not to make multiple trips to and from school each day, but this seminar meets only once a week, and consists of just the ladies of my Women's and Reproductive IC, coming together to talk about what we know best. It's a great class to end the day with, as I'm assured each time I leave that the field I've chosen is where I belong.

My next stop in the day is the gym, a needed release of energy and an hour to just be. By the time I reach the CCRB, the swarms of afternoon exercisers have left, and a treadmill is waiting for me to arrive. I run to the beats of my Pump Up play-list on my IPod, relieving the stress and tension of the week. After a run, I head to the weight room for a quick lift before bundling up again to walk home. Dinner and a shower at my apartment shake off the cold of the day. I catch up on the evening news over stir-fry and a glass of wine--and of course, my daily piece of chocolate.

It's 7:30 at this point, which leaves me three solid hours of time to scour several articles, edit a paper or work on a group project. I head to the law library, which combines ambiance with silence--a combination I've found to be highly productive. As I leave the library, I call my best friend for the walk home. Her location in LA and the three hour time difference aligns perfectly for a late night chat. Fifteen minutes later I'm home--satisfyingly exhausted. Lights out until the sounds of country music on the radio wake me again in the morning.