A new wave of freshmen have entered high school. Many are already involved in activities and have plans to join the many clubs, sports and programs the high school offers. This balancing act is tricky, but luckily some seniors have figured out how to do it.
One of the incoming freshmen is Nikhil Ramajaru. The shift to high school brings him a new challenge. “I am worried if I will be able to manage my time,” he said. “I have my already committed activities and the work I will receive in school.” As a committed athlete on the local rowing team as well as a committed student, it is important to Ramajaru that he doesn’t have to compromise in either thing.
Many students find themselves with many things to balance, as many students are involved in a variety of sports, the arts and music. Approximately a quarter of the school is in the marching band alone. Some upperclassmen believe they have learned how to balance their commitments, but the newest freshmen are now in a new more demanding chapter of their lives.
One senior who has had success with involvement in numerous activities is Amulya Pillutla. “I am involved in many things, including rowing, music, and volunteer work,” she said. A tool she utilizes is organization. She explained, “I keep a detailed schedule of what I need to get done for school and when I have time commitments, so I know how much available time I have.”
This method has allowed Pillutla to be successful with her activities and allowed her to stay involved through all four years of high school. She recommends freshmen, especially those with busy schedules, to use methods including planners and calendars to keep track of their commitments and time.
Pillutla also emphasized another benefit to good time management: sleep. “I get work done in my free time throughout the day,” she explained, “so I’m able to get a reasonable amount of sleep.” She considers sleep to be one of the most important things to high school success. By utilizing organization, this year’s freshmen can be involved in all the things they are passionate about and have the energy to handle school too.
