Senior Kaitlin Suddath feels the stress leave her as she finally completes her workload for the week.
“I feel really stressed at some points, but once I get something big done I can feel it all lift off my shoulders and relax,” said Suddath.
Not everyone takes on the challenges like Suddath does, but she makes the most out of her high school career.
“I am taking four AP classes, applying for scholarships and writing those essays and I work 15 hours on the weekend,” said Suddath.
With all these things going on in her life, Suddath is all about planning and organzing.
“I try to take one thing at a time, and not do everything at once,” said Suddath, “ I ask my manager for early hours so I can go home and do homework and work on college stuff.”
Senior Mitch LaMendola steps up and takes on all the activities he can, much like Suddath he has a full schedule on his plate.
“I am balancing three AP classes, club soccer and high school soccer, also in senior class council I am the Vice President and in the youth leadership at church,” said LaMendola.
LaMendola also tries to plan ahead even if that means late nights of hard work and studying.
“I plan ahead on most things even if I have to stay up late so I can finish homework after soccer practice,” said LaMendola.
AP US History teacher John Stewart encourages students to try to balance extra curricular and other classes as long as they can manage their time wisely.
“In college they have to balance class and work just like in real life,” said Stewart. “Time management is very important.”
He suggests prioritizing everything going on and never taking on more than you can handle.
“Organize, prioritize, and set limits. Don’t take on too much, pick what you like the most,” said Stewart.
Suddath definitely has her work prioritized and right now college is her main focus.
“For me college essays come before homework,” said Suddath,” I do admit to slacking off on homework in order to do scholarship essays.”
Teachers try to accommodate the students participating in the extra-curricular activities, which can cause them to miss a lot of class.
“I let students have three days to make up a test that they’ve missed. When they turn in something late though I only give half credit,” said Stewart.
Whether the student’s activities cause them to miss their classes or not, it is very important for them to make up any notes or classwork they may have missed.
“It is extremely important to be here as often as possible. There is a direct correlation between failing and missing class. I don’t discourage extra-curricular activities though,” said Stewart.
