Mariah Chavira

Being a community college student is about more than just attending classes. Many students are balancing school, work, and personal responsibilities while also preparing for their future careers. Every day looks different for me, and sometimes unexpected plans can change routines. As a student working toward completing my social media marketing degree, I am constantly learning how to manage my time, stay motivated, and continue building my career at the same time.

This article shares a realistic look at one day in my life as a community college student who is not only completing assignments but also working, creating content, and preparing for life after graduation.

Morning Routine: Resetting After a Busy Weekend

On most Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays, my morning starts very early, around 4:30AM, so I can get to the gym before starting the rest of my daily responsibilities. However, this particular Wednesday looked a little different because I had just returned from Coachella Weekend 1, and my body needed a bit more time to recover. So, instead of waking up before sunrise as I usually do, I started my day at around 7:00AM, which gave me a much-needed boost to fulfill the day’s requirements.

My morning routine still focused on getting organized and preparing for the day ahead. I filmed a Get Ready With Me video, which is part of the content I create daily as I continue building my presence in digital media. Creating content has become an important part of my daily routine because it allows me to practice skills related to my future career in social media marketing. In addition, it is just something I enjoy doing on a daily basis.

Even on slower mornings, I remind myself that preparation sets the tone for the rest of the day.

Late Morning: Turning Free Time into Productive Time

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♬ Garden party – neo trip

Around 9:00AM, my day officially began moving. I was already dressed and ready, so I filmed the start of my Day in My Life video by showing my outfit for the day. I made coffee at home and ate breakfast, which was leftovers from the night before (a tostada with beans, cheese, ground beef, and salsa). It was a simple meal, but it gave me the energy I needed to keep my focus.

Before heading to study, I made a quick stop at Costco to get gas and a car wash. Small errands like these are part of everyday life, but they still require planning and time management. After finishing my errands, I drove to Palm & Boy Coffee and Acai to study before class. This is one of my favorite cafés (Fun Fact: I used to work here back in 2019!)

I arrived at the café around 10:00AM, ordered an iced dirty chai with almond milk, and settled in to get some work done. This was important because it allowed me to prepare for class while also working on creative projects.

While studying, I filmed and created a short video for TikTok featuring a lip combo using my new Rhode products. Creating content while studying might seem unusual and/or odd, but for me, it is part of building my career. It allows me to practice marketing, filming, editing, and branding skills in real time!

Attending Class: Investing in My Future

After studying at the Palm & Boy, I left to attend my 11:30AM Digital Content Marketing class. Attending class is one of the most important parts of my day because it provides the knowledge and skills I need to succeed in my field. I am enjoying this class because it allows me to connect, in person, to peers with similar interests as me! As a community college student, I have learned that my education is an investment in my future.

Balancing school responsibilities requires a ton discipline and focus. Even on days when I feel tired or busy, I remind myself why I started this journey in the first place and what goal I am working towards.

Afternoon: Working and gaining Real-World Experience

After class, I drove to Thousand Oaks, where I work. Before clocking in for my shift, I picked up lunch from Jersey Mike’s and prepared for the rest of the afternoon. I worked from 1:30PM to 6:00PM, helping customers and managing various other responsibilities at my job.

Working while attending school has taught me valuable skills such as time management, communication, and responsibility. These skills are just as important as the lessons I am learning in the classroom. Having a job also helps me gain real-world experience that will, hopefully, be useful in my future career.

My workday marked the end of my Day In My Life Vlog, but my responsibilities did not stop there.

Evening Reset: Finishing Responsibilities and Preparing for Tomorrow

After finishing work at 6PM, I drove home and continued organizing my space. I had just returned from a busy weekend at Coachella, so cleaning and resetting my environment was necessary to feel prepared for the upcoming week. Resetting the space is always helpful in creating a more productive environment.

Even after a long day of school and work, my responsibilities were nowhere near completed. I am currently taking Excel and we usually have a variety of assignments due on Wednesdays and Saturdays. Since this was a Wednesday, I still had a full list of assignments to complete. This part of the day requires extreme discipline, especially when I feel tired.

Later in the evening, I went to grab dinner at In-N-Out. Taking time to eat and relax is important because it allows me to recharge after a full day of responsibilities.

By the time I finished dinner, it was around 10:00PM, I took a shower, prepared for bed and got ready for my nightly “scroll-time”. Nights are a time for reflection and recovery. Even though the day was super busy, I was proud of everything I accomplished with my time management and organization. Now I am one day closer to building my dream career.

Reflecting: Becoming a Girl Boss One Day at a Time

This day in my life shows that being a community college student involves so much more than just going to class. It requires dedication, organization, and motivation. Everything I do, whether I am studying at the café, working a shift at my 9-5, creating content, or studying and doing homework, plays a role in building my future.

As the end of the semester approaches, I continue to focus on developing my skills, gaining experience, and preparing myself for my career in digital marketing. And while everyday looks different, one thing remains the same: all of the effort I put into each day helps me shape my opportunities for the next day to come.

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Here at home in Ventura County, a family-owned flower distribution company has grown into one of the largest companies of its kind in California. What some may not realize is that behind the warehouses, cold storage units, and daily shipments is a former nursing student whose career path did a complete 180 in 2020.

Channel Islands Flowers began in August of 2020 during a time of extreme uncertainty for Manuel Ayala and his family. After the company where he had been working for many years shut down, Manuel Ayala, my best friend’s father, was suddenly left without a job. When his former boss offered him the opportunity to purchase the suffering business, it was a major risk, but one he was willing to take. A few months prior, his daughter, Valerie, had moved back home from Santa Barbara, where she had been studying nursing at Santa Barbara City College. As the pandemic completely interrupted her education, she enrolled at Ventura College to continue nursing while also nannying full-time. At the same time, she began helping her father rebuild the newly purchased business from the ground up, a decision that would ultimately alter the entire trajectory of their lives.

Reflecting on those early days, she describes the company as something that needed to be rebuilt almost entirely. “We had about 11 employees at the time, and we rebuilt and expanded completely,” she said. “Now we have over 100 employees, multiple field locations, and a warehouse. Back then, it felt like we were gathering the marbles that were dropped everywhere.”

For the Ayala’s, their growth came about from years sacrifice. “When they got here, they started working super young,” she said about her parents’ immigrant journey from Michoacan to the United States. “They have always had a strong work ethic, and without that, they wouldn’t have been able to accomplish anything they have so far.” That same mindset shaped her own turning point in early 2022. While balancing nursing school, nannying from 7AM to 3:30PM, evening classes at Ventura College, and late nights working for her family business, she realized that she was no longer able to spread her time. “My workload with the business became so much that I had to quit my nanny job and shortly after, I dropped out of school,” she said. “That’s when I realized, this is what I am doing now.”

Today, Channel Islands Flowers is recognized as one of the largest distributors in California. On a scale of one to ten, she rates the company at an eight. The business supplies florists and other flower companies with stems like Ranunculus, Calla Lilies, Lisianthus, Delphiniums, Hybrid Lilies, and a variety of other seasonal flowers. A majority of their products are sold throughout various sellers in the Los Angeles Flower Market, one of the largest wholesale flower markets in the country. Additional distribution is sold in major grocery stores like Trader Joes and Vons. Despite the company’s scale, Valerie remains very humble about her position. “It’s very eye-opening,” she said. “I think we’re still in the stage of imposter syndrome… but our family is very supportive, which allows us to continue to do what we do.”

What started as a risky decision during the pandemic has grown into one of Ventura County’s most successful distribution companies. From balancing nursing school and long workdays to stepping fully into leadership, her journey reflects the unpredictable nature of growth. Channel Islands Flowers continues to bloom each day because the Ayala family chose to plant those roots.

Visit their Instagram & Website above!