Have you ever felt like there isn’t enough time in the day to get everything done you wanted to? That’s a pretty common feeling that students have everyday. Through balancing a job, participating in a sport, all while being a full time student, days can be packed to the brim.
Going into high school there are expectations that school is your priority as it is preparing you for college. While the school and studying aspect of school is very important, there are also lots of other things about high school that kids get to experience. Some of those things are playing a sport and getting a job.
For many seniors the first quarter of the year is a stressful time with school, activities and college applications. Senior Maddie Alford has worked at Starbucks from August of 2022 working around 12 hours a week, while also participating in club and school volleyball which takes up much of her time all while balancing her Shorewood and running start classes. “I really struggled with balancing my time especially because I had school volleyball, school work, college apps, and wanted to hangout with friends especially since it’s my senior year.” Alford said. While Alford has openly said how she has had difficulties juggling all three at an already stressful time in her life. “Sometimes I did have to miss social activities due to school work,” Alford said. That is a very common occurrence, when balancing so many things. However, when dealing with homework over the weekend it was “very important to me that I got my school work done so that I could fully enjoy the rest of my weekend without school work looming over my head,” Alford said.
It may be difficult to juggle everything that you have to do with school, a sport and a job, the lessons that you learn about yourself and what works. Senior Jackson Smith who works at U Haul and plays soccer for Shorewood says, “time management is important. It helps you get your work done as well as being organized and having your priorities straight.”
Many students have methods that work for them. Some make lists, use calendars, and even use different studying techniques to help ensure that everything gets done. Junior Ava Enriquez, a nationally ranked pole vaulter and full-time student, believes it’s important to have a system. “Something that really helps in keeping me organized is by using google calendar. It helps me remember my tasks for the day and sort out my thoughts,” she said. Finding something that works for you as a person and student is something that can greatly benefit you and how you work through things in the future.
When it comes to studying and doing school work some have different techniques including having some classical music or a show going on in the background, using the Pomodoro technique which is where you work for a focused interval, usually 25 minutes, then take a five minute break and repeat the process, time blocking, and just sitting down and putting any distractions away in order to get school work done. This could be turning your phone on focus mode or even going somewhere where you can focus, all in order to accomplish your school work and feel a bit less stressed with your other activities all happening at once.
While it definitely may be a challenge making sure that everything is done, playing a sport, and participating at your job, there is a lot of credit that should be given. Doing all of those things at one time is not an easy accomplishment and it is something that should be seen and celebrated. “Overall my biggest tip is make sure that you are still able to do the things that you enjoy and to prioritize yourself,” Alford said.
