The sun is beaming, buses are packed, teachers are settling into their classrooms, kids are crowding the hallways. The school year has officially begun, symbolizing a new beginning.
While this is an exciting time, between all the classes, sports and jobs, it can become hard for students to handle these responsibilities.
Despite all of these responsibilities, it’s important for students to maintain a balance while prioritizing their happiness.
According to the American Psychological Association (APA), teenagers feel as though their stress is at an unhealthy level during the school year, so much so that it affects their mental and emotional health.
“Find out what you love. Really focus on what your priorities are and what your goals are,” counselor Briana Underwood said. “And if you feel like you’re getting overwhelmed, talk to your parents, (or) your school counselor. You don’t have to do everything on your own.”
Here are some tips provided by the SHS community to help balance school with extracurricular activities, jobs and sports.
Junior Sung Tial is a student who’s very involved within the school and the community.
For her, a packed schedule has always been something of the norm.
Whether it’s taking care of her siblings, helping set up for practices and games as a volleyball manager and having to spend extra time at school for her extracurriculars, such as The Anchor Yearbook and Cardinal Cadre, Sung’s schedule is never empty.
Tial’s biggest tip for handling a busy schedule is making sure that one stays on track with constant reminders and holding herself accountable.
“I really look ahead at when meetings are and how my week is going to look and plan each day,” Tial said. “I usually set a time frame for me to do certain things so that I could also push myself to do that, and so things don’t end up adding on and on, and so I don’t stress myself out.”
Junior Emiliano Renteria-Ramos, a student heavily involved in school, has a similar schedule. Being in Key Club, Robotics, DECA and working at Tiger Sugar is no easy task to handle.
“It’s all about mindset. Keep the mentality that you’re responsible for your own success. Try not to let things change that,” Renteria said. “Sure, there’s definitely times it could affect you, but just keep the mindset that it’s you in control.”
Sophomore Glory Thang, who’s involved in Young Life, and the Burmese American Community Institute (BACI) advises that students should be involved in school activities as it can and will help enforce positive studying habits.
“You should definitely join a club since it can help with things like your grades or your volunteer hours (or), your schoolwork in general,” Thang said. “Being a part of a club actually helps force you to remember to get your work done on time.”
Senior Jesus Pablo-Valderrama, who does wrestling, CCC, Younglife and BACI, believes that a student can handle the responsibility of balancing school with extracurricular activities, so long as they’re dedicated to doing it.
“Go for it. You only get these four years to be a part of a team and do sports. I’d say make the most out of those four years,” Pablo-Valderrama said. “I don’t believe people that give excuses and say they can’t do it, balancing school and other things, because it’s definitely doable. It’s stressful, yes, but if you’re really dedicated to doing something, you’re going to find a way to do it.”
