Staff Writer- Nhi Le

The “overinvolved Gustie” is widely seen as a badge of honor on campus. For many students, a packed schedule is the norm, and burnout is simply accepted as a collegiate rite of passage. Senior Music major Drew Lyford, focusing on euphonium performance and music composition, knows this lifestyle all too well. But as he navigates his final year on the hill, Lyford has intentionally chosen a different path, proving that true success sometimes means learning how to step back.

During his first few years at Gustavus, Lyford found himself caught in a relentless current of campus involvement. Driven by the novelty of being a first-year student and a deep desire to make music, he joined everything he could. His resume quickly expanded to include the Gustavus Wind Orchestra, Gustavus Choir, Gustavus Jazz Ensemble, Handbells, Club Tennis, Epsilon Pi Alpha, various music lessons, tutoring and office work.

“I loved being in every ensemble I could, and unfortunately my philosophy seemed to be ‘one more couldn’t hurt’ until my ensembles took up just as much time as all of my classes,” Lyford said.

Like many of his peers, Lyford did not realize the true weight of his commitments. He noted that music ensembles are functionally classes with their own homework (practicing) and exams (concerts). This realization meant his perceived four-class workload was actually closer to seven or eight classes a semester, leaving him wondering why he was tired all of the time.

The pressure to stay busy was also fueled by a fear of missing out. After facing the disappointment of not making the top ensembles during his first year, Lyford felt an intense, self-imposed pressure to join every activity his friends were in by his sophomore year.

However, the nonstop grind eventually took its toll. For three years, Lyford rarely had more than an hour of break between commitments, often using that narrow window as his only chance to eat. Realizing this schedule was tough on his mind and body, he made the difficult decision to step down from the Gustavus Choir and Christ Chapel Ringers for his senior year.

“It was tough to say no to those two for my last year of college because many good friends were in both of those ensembles,” Lyford said. “However, I had to make the choice to prioritize well-being over fun, and now I feel better, having more time to breathe and actually practice my music for other ensembles.”

This intentional shift has been widely supported by his peers. Senior Music Education major Colleen Coleman has been a close friend since their very first semester on campus, bonding through the shared grief of demanding band schedules and intense music theory coursework.

“He has grown to be one of my dearest friends and probably the only person I’ve ever met who is most similar to myself,” Coleman said. “He is a very devoted and selfless person who has recently started to learn the art of free time.”

Coleman noted that although she misses seeing him in choir every day, she is glad he is taking steps to get the most out of his four years.

“College isn’t forever, why not enjoy what’s left of it without cramming your days full to the brim,” Coleman said. “It’s against the tide of the ‘overinvolved Gustie’ but potentially worth it in the end. Especially for someone as talented and creative as Drew, it’s important to not dull your sparkle too much.”

By reclaiming his schedule, Lyford finally has the energy to simply exist without expectations. He is also using his newly acquired free time to focus on music composition in preparation for graduate school, where he hopes to dive deeper into music theory and composition.

Adjunct Professor of Music and Director of Christ Chapel Ringers Chad Winterfeldt has witnessed Lyford’s artistic growth firsthand and is highly supportive of this mature approach to time management.

“I am so impressed that Drew is being intentional about reducing his activities to focus on the things that matter most to him,” Winterfeldt said. “I appreciate Drew’s curiosity and deep manner of thinking. His urge to create new music, to study the works of the masters and his passion for performing are inspiring.”

Looking back, Lyford feels he has grown significantly in personal and social ways. While he regrets not having the time to volunteer with organizations like Big Hill Farm or Big Partner Little Partner, he uses his experience to offer a piece of wisdom to first-year students. He advises them to start small, try different clubs each semester and remember that free time is highly underrated in a world that feels nonstop busy.

“The world needs you,” Lyford said. “But the world also needs you to be in a good headspace.”