BY ISABELLA BEELER

Most students are really busy. They have school, homework, chores, and maybe extra curricular activities and jobs to do. They barely have time to rest during the week and some end up staying up late. Despite it being hard, you should still do some type of extra curricular activity.

Extra curricular activities can help kids with all sorts of things. They can keep them out of trouble, help them make friends, and improve their physical and mental health. Some examples of extracurricular activities are dance, gymnastics, cheer, basketball, volleyball, soccer, football, golf, and any sport. You can also do community theater or school clubs like art or language. 

The downside to a busy activity slate is that there’s not a lot of time to do homework. After a long day at school plus extracurriculars, they deserve a break. Many teachers don’t assign homework at Truman, but some do. Usually it is only if you don’t finish the assignment during class. 

Another thing that adds to many high school students’ day is A+. That is a scholarship opportunity that pays fully for community college for 2 years. To earn it, you can either tutor at an ISD elementary or middle school or do Kids’ Safari. You also have to do a job shadow. That takes time out of your day when you already have a lot of obligations.   

Many students, like myself, can find this type of schedule exhausting. What follows  are some tips to help get through it:  

• Plan breaks into your schedule. There is always something else that needs done, so make having a break a priority. This is just a part of good time management.
• Have a routine. Although it’s tempting to sleep until noon if you can on a Saturday, it can disrupt your sleep patterns and make things worse. It can also take time out of your day to do stuff.
• Eat healthy and drink water. Not having the right nutrients can make you more tired.  

Students are really busy during the school year with many things to do. With that being said, extracurricular activities are good for your mental and physical health. A+ is also really good for scholarships and flexible even though it takes time. Homework is not fun, but just stay on top of it. With all of the busyness, just remember to plan breaks, have a routine, and eat and drink healthily. If you remember those things, your school week will be less stressful.