This fall Jillene Krause is juggling a full-time job, taking 12 credits in night classes and doing the resulting six to eight hours of homework each week.
And you thought you were busy.
A 36-year-old returning undergraduate student, Krause was initially overwhelmed by the responsibilities she had taken on this semester, but is finally again settling in to college life.
"My biggest challenge has been time," Krause said. "I just feel like there's never enough. I always feel like I'm rushing things."
Krause graduated in 1996 with an associate's degree in applied arts from The Art Institute of Seattle, and has been working in broadcasting for the past nine years. She works as a traffic director for Citadel Broadcasting, scheduling commercials for 97 Rock and the Buffalo Bills Network.
After many years of working full time, Krause realized that she needed a better degree to fulfill the career path she desires. For many adults, returning to college is only a passing thought, but Krause was ambitious enough to put her dreams into motion.
Although she loves her job, Krause looks forward to advancing her career with a B.A. in communication, and she has given a lot of thought to law school or graduate school further down the road.
Krause's experience in broadcasting has taught her many things about the entertainment field, some of which she would like to change by studying law.
"Law school or graduate school will take me to a different level of broadcasting in my career," Krause said.
As a lawyer, Krause said she would have the expertise to assist artists in making decisions that are beneficial to them both financially and creatively.
"I want to do something in the entertainment field to help the artists," Krause said. "I have lots of friends who are artists and have signed contracts that were good for the company, but not for them. I want to be able to change that."
But before this broadcasting veteran can shake things up in the music industry, she needs to make sure she has a firm grip on the reins of her hectic schedule. It was difficult at first for Krause to find time to do all of her homework, but she has managed to work out a schedule that prioritizes her daily tasks.
She limits the time that she watches television and sets aside Saturdays and Sundays for schoolwork, which allows little time for boredom or procrastination. She makes sure to make the most of gaps in between classes.
As the daughter of an Air Force sergeant, Krause is no newbie to change and rigid structure. Her father's career required the family to frequently pack up and move; they have lived in Mississippi, California, Hawaii and New Mexico. As a result, structure for Krause provides familiarity, and despite the stress it may cause, makes her feel more comfortable and helps the time fly.
In addition to the demands of school and work, Krause sings with the Adult Choir and Contemporary Ensemble at St. John Vianney Church in Orchard Park. Even though her tight schedule keeps her from practicing with the choir, she makes sure that she is there every Sunday at 10 a.m. to perform.
It is commitment and belief in her ability that keeps Krause going one day at a time.
"(Getting my degree) is really important to me and I don't want to mess it up," she said. "My friends' understanding and my mother's constant encouragement definitely helps give me confidence that I can get my degree and go in the direction I now know I want to go."
"Part of me wishes I had finished my degree when I was younger, but part of me knows I wouldn't be the person that I am," Krause continued. "Ultimately, I'm glad things worked out the way they did because I really like my life, even if it is a little crazy."
Photo: Courtesy of Laron Fomby
