A student’s life contains plenty of responsibilities—sometimes so many that it can become overwhelming. To counteract this problem, students use a variety of strategies that aim to reduce the stress of a large schedule.

Lots of students take dual enrollment or AP classes that provide a larger time commitment than normal, due to more homework and a harder curriculum.

“A good amount [of my time is taken up by homework] throughout the week,” Mark Andrawes (‘26) said. “But, [the time taken up] is based on how well I spend my time in class to be productive.”

Productivity is very important in managing responsibilities in one’s schedule, and can make the difference between spending 30 minutes on homework or 2 hours.

“Trying to use those little snippets of time—like if you have those last 10 minutes of class—[is a good way to balance school and homework],” AVID teacher Gail Varvel said.

Extracurriculars, such as clubs or sports, add another layer of difficulty when balancing one’s schedule. Having other activities can be a challenge, yet some students still find a way to maintain a balance.

“I know my priorities,” Bo Allshouse (‘27) said. “I know what I’m able to do. Therefore, I can figure out what I need to do.”

Focusing on one’s priorities can help students understand what is needed of them and what they need to sacrifice.

“I realized that I was dedicating a lot of time to [mock trial] and decided to quit because I no longer got enjoyment from it,” Orion Schmidt (‘26) said.

Catching procrastination and understanding one’s priorities is difficult. That’s why having a planner can be helpful

“[AVID students] are strong advocates for the planner,” Varvel said. “Writing down everything and good time management [are useful in figuring] out where those lost moments are, and hopefully [carving] out more time to do schoolwork.”

Managing time wisely can be difficult for students, but using helpful tools, such as daily planners and prioritizing their time, can help make it easier for students.