Balancing coursework and launching my startup - any tips?

[WayneGreen]

Discovered my love for entrepreneurship through a high school internship, but now I'm knee-deep in courses like Startup Fundamentals and Venture Capital, all while battling homesickness. I'm all about taking risks and being innovative, but man, writing business plans and prepping pitches got me questioning my life choices!

On top of that, dreaming of researching at a national lab feels like an impossible feat with all these assignments piling up. So, fellow Cali students, any tips on balancing coursework and launching a startup? How do you stay motivated when homesickness hits hard? And most importantly, how do you keep your head above water in this sea of business-related stress? Help a struggling entrepreneur out!

 

[MartinM]

I'm not a founder but I'm a CS major with a minor in entrepreneurship and I've learned that calendars are either your best friend or your worst enemy. Mine used to be the enemy until I started time-blocking everything—including sleep, meals, and mental breakdowns (yes, literally scheduled).

The Pomodoro technique saved my GPA. 25 minutes of intense focus, 5 minutes of staring at the wall or texting home. Repeat. Four Pomodoros, then a real break. It sounds simple but when you're drowning in business plans AND venture capital readings, breaking time into tiny chunks makes it feel manageable.

Also, use your professors as resources. Tell them what you're trying to build. Most of them have industry connections or have started companies themselves. One of my professors connected me to a mentor who helped me avoid three major startup mistakes. Office hours aren't just for clarifying assignments—they're for building your network.

Homesickness tip: cook one meal from home every Sunday. The smell alone will ground you. My abuela's arroz con pollo recipe has saved my mental health more than any productivity hack.