A day in the life of a 4th year Global Management student

Hi everyone! I’m Nimi, a Business Management student at Toronto Metropolitan University majoring in Global Management Studies and the President of the Black Business Student Association (BBSA (external link) ). My weeks are packed, and no two days ever look the same, but Wednesdays are my favourite kind of chaos. Between early mornings, classes, BBSA meetings, and a little bit of me-time in between, somehow it all just comes together. So here’s a preview of a day in my life this Wednesday:

My day starts before the sun’s even up. I take a 5:30 a.m. heated workout class every morning, and honestly, it’s the only reason I function. It’s ALWAYS intense and generally feels like an accomplishment before most people have even woken up. Once I’m done, I head home, shower and get ready while I mentally start building my to-do list for the day.

By 8 a.m. I am in my first class, GMS 694 - The African Business Environment, one of my core Business Management courses. This actually is one of my favourite courses because it feels connected to who I am and where I come from. We dive into topics like economic development, trade, entrepreneurship, and the different ways countries across Africa build and grow their markets. It’s refreshing to sit in a lecture that doesn’t feel abstract or distant.

As soon as class ends, it’s time for my go-to pick-me-up, a cold Red Bull. Who needs coffee when you can just grab a Red Bull? I call it my “uni drink” because it gets me through those long, back-to-back days. I’ll sip it while walking across campus to my next class, usually with my headphones in and music on.

My second class of the day is one of my electives CRM 515 - Gendering Justice, which I enjoy because it’s different from my core courses. This class has a completely different energy from my business courses, which is part of why I enjoy it so much. It’s slower-paced, more reflective, and it lets me explore a different side of my interests. We talk about how gender shapes people’s experiences with the criminal justice system, and the conversations are always thought-provoking.

Typically around this time, it hits me that I’ve been running around all day and haven’t actually eaten. I usually end up at either Basil Box, Salad King or Chipotle, all within walking distance of campus. I’ll grab my food, find a spot, and put on Netflix while I eat.

After lunch, I head to the 7th floor of the Student Learning Centre (SLC), my favourite study spot. It’s VERY VERY quiet and I need that because it keeps me focused. This is when I do assignments, respond to emails, essentially just my time to #lockin.

Around this time, I start heading home. I love walking and listening to podcasts, so my route home is never straightforward. I’ll usually take the long way, stop by a few spots, and sometimes pick up what I’m having for dinner. It’s my favourite way to unwind and clear my head after a long day. Plus I always hit my 10k daily steps duh!

Evening means BBSA (Black Business Student Association (external link) ) time. The BBSA is a student interest group at the Ted Rogers School of Management and home to the largest network of Black students at TMU. As President, I make sure to be focused and engaged, but our meetings are always fun. They’re supposed to end after an hour (I wish), but there’s always great conversation and ideas flowing, so I never mind when they run a little longer.

After a series of meetings, I finally sit down with my dinner and continue whatever show I started earlier. It’s my way of winding down before bed. The couch is my favourite spot in the house.  Without fail, I fall asleep there every night and so I’ve started setting a midnight alarm to wake myself up.

Once I finally get to my bed, I (pretend to) take a few minutes to reflect, plan for the next morning, and set my alarm for 4:45 a.m. My days are long and full, but I love the balance of productivity, community, and little moments of peace that make it all worth it.

Until next time,
Nimi 💙