- As a high school student, have you ever felt stressed out about the little time you have? Has there ever been a day when you’ve wondered what it would be like to drop all of your extracurricular activities and actually have free time?
- As a student, time is a very valuable thing. That only gets more complicated once you throw things like work, clubs and jobs into the mix. Trying to prioritize what's important and what can wait is something that some struggle with. That fact doesn’t become any easier when there are deadlines or time limits. Balancing activities and time can indeed become a struggle, especially when you have more than one main focus. So what all takes up your time?
- “Many things take up my time,” senior Grace Jowers said. “Things like tennis, choir, dual credit classes, as well as a youth group. These are the main things that take up all my time outside of school. Not to mention, I have a part-time job on the weekends. However, out of all of my activities, tennis takes up the majority of my schedule."
- Seeing that you're a student athlete, one can assume that your schedule is fairly crammed between practices and constant schoolwork. Considering this, does your schedule give you any time to wind down or relax at home?
“My time is very limited, so I don't get to be at home too much,” Jowers said. “I spend most of my time outside of my house. Most of the time, I’m at tennis matches, football games, work, practice, you name it. Thanks to all of the activities I participate in, I don’t get home till very late. Usually, I only have enough time to shower and eat before I have to go to bed.”
With the little time that you're given, would you say that your schedule can affect your personal life when it comes to interaction? Does it limit your friendships or the time you take for yourself?
“My schedule for a fact does interfere with my personal life,” Grace said. “The fact is, I don't have much time for myself. I don't have much time for my friends either. My schedule makes it hard to plan hangouts, and it's a struggle to work around events like parties or last-minute plans.”
With all that you run through in a day, it’s clear to see that every second in the day can easily be a race against time for you. Considering this, how do you manage your schoolwork, and does it ever catch up to you enough to overload you? With this, is it easy to balance the difference between the two? Are you able to focus on everything relatively well, even under possible stress?
“I would say I am able to focus on my school work and other things pretty well compared to other people and past schedules of mine,” Grace said. “I like to think that I'm able to handle everything I take on, challenge, and opportunity.”
“Aside from being able to handle everything I take on, things that get thrown onto me, like schoolwork, can and most often do catch up to me. Most times, though, I take what little time I have and focus purely on the work handed to me as fast and proficiently as possible.”
It's interesting to think that a student would want to give up so much time to dedicate to a sport, activity, or club. Yet it’s very understandable as well. Another question that can be asked, however, is whether there is anything in your schedule that you would get rid of to replace it with time, as well as do you feel accomplished in what you do at the end of the day?
“I don't think there's anything in my schedule I would get rid of to gain more free time,” Grace said. “It ends up working itself out, and I do feel accomplishment at the end of the day because of that reason. Another reason I feel accomplished is that I have tennis practice for the last two hours of my day, so when I do good in those two hours, then I do feel proud of myself.
It’s great to be able to say that you can go home and feel happy about what you did in a day. Not having to worry or fear that you messed up. And with a busy schedule, that very often. One final question. What's some advice you can give to others who are just starting high school and feel they've taken on more than they can handle? Or those that are constantly on the move and need a way to maybe ground themself, even with limited time.
“If you know you can't handle the hustle of it all, then I wouldn't suggest it. There's no point in burning yourself out,” Grace said. ”You still have your whole life to do everything you want to. You don't have to follow the stereotype of a perfect or average high school experience. Along that line, if you’re trying to find a way to slow everything down, it’s as easy as you can’t. I definitely understand wanting time, but sometimes that time doesn't come. You’re going to have to find it or sometimes make it, and that won't be easy, but don't freak out. And do try to make time for yourself. It’s needed if you want to be able to keep up.