I have learned the importance of a balanced life this semester because I put less time into school than I normally would have and tried to attend more school events like football games and other activities. Last year I was laser-focused on doing well in school and with all the time I put in the results did come, but I found myself asking the question, was it all worth it? I guess that’s kind of the ultimate question in life, whether all the hard work and sacrifice are worth it. Everyone has their own answer to that question but for me personally this year I found out that I’m somewhere in the middle. I want to work hard and do well academically but also be able to enjoy time with friends and have fun. Something else I learned this year was the importance of time management and organizing myself. Having an organized life is a huge stress reliever because you know exactly what you need to do every day and random things from the past week that you’ve procrastinated aren’t weighing you down. Procrastination is a big life problem for me and i’ve realized that i’m using it as a defense mechanism for any stress im feeling so I just keep pushing it off instead of combating the problem.
The advice I would give them is to have fun this year and enjoy your last year of highschool. Do things you normally wouldn’t and talk to people you normally would never talk to. Keeping grades up is also important but especially if you’ve been working hard in past years you should try and create some more free time for yourself. Another piece of advice I would give them is to try and make as many new friends as you can and meet new people. Something else more academically related is to start on your college applications as early as you can especially if your a master procrastinator like me you dont want to be waiting until the final week to start your essay and apply to collges because then it starts conflicting with your school work and then you start rushing through it. Overall not a good experience with the one thing you need to get right which is college apps.
The past six months have changed my perspective on a lot of things but one of them is the importance of talking with new people and making new friends. I’ve made a lot of friends this year and meeting new people is always a really cool experience because everyones unique in their own way. Your happiest moments aren’t in a room by yourself, it’s always with friends or family doing something fun or experiencing something special.
One of the lessons I am taking away this semester is staying foucsed and organized but also to have fun when possible. The importance of a balanced life is one of the most important lessons I have learned this semester which I will carry with me throughout my life. You can find a way to work hard but also make room for friends and family you will have a much more fulfilling and happy life. It sounds easy but it takes a lot of time to figure out where that middle ground is for you. Another lesson im taking away this semester is keeping your life as organized as possible and making sure that you dont procrastinate important things like college applications and important assignments. Avoiding work will not help you because more and more things will just pile up as time goes on. The final lesson I’m taking away this year is to make as many memeories as I can and do things I normally wouldn’t because its my last year of highschool and I dont really want to leave Naperville North with any regrets. Overall highschool was a very stressful time but also a learning experience and I got do so many fun things because of it.
Myuren, I enjoyed your take on the question you posed in the beginning sentences of your article. Many people would say that of course it is worth it to work hard, but you disagreed and said that it was somewhere in the middle. I agree with your statement regarding the question. Your note about procrastination also rings true as pushing stress off only worsens the problem. Your answer to the question of what you would tell an incoming senior is also similar to what I would say, as I agree that the last year of high school is much less important than previous years. Another thing that I would add to that is to plan accordingly for senior year by taking easier classes. Early dismissal and late starts are good ways to break up the day, especially if you are not feeling motivated. A study hall can also help give you time to do homework, so you do not have to do it out of school. Lastly, blended classes are another good way to break up the day. I feel that almost all blended classes do not ask for much work on blended days, so it can almost be a free period.
Myruen,
I agree with your big idea of having fun while in school. I think that this year has been a little difficult for me to completely enjoy myself while still keeping up with my school work as this year I am taking the most weighted classes I have ever taken. But, I have found that if I work hard during the week, then I can have fun and spend time with friends over the weekend. I have found that one way that I am able to keep myself organized in school is by keeping my room organized. When I surround myself with an environment that I am able to have some control over, I am more efficient in the work that I get done. This balance between school and social life has been one that is tough to balance. But, throughout much trial and error, I think that I have finally mastered it. I hope that next semester is going to allow me to have a better balance between the two with me taking fewer honors classes. I have very high hopes kind of like high high hopes for a huskie. I hope I can stay organized and have a good social life next semester.