The Balancing Act
- Blue Gold Wizard
- Feb 5
- 2 min read
By YOSSELINE DE LEON.
“I make a lot of lists; packing lists, to-do lists, wishlists, whatever. Making lists allows me to get my priorities in order,” Alexa Carlantone, a senior at Washingtonville High School, shares. As a commander for the WHS JROTC drill team she has a busy schedule. How does she manage school, friends, and family?
“I definitely feel like I'm losing sleep due to my schedule. I work hard to balance my social life and scholarly responsibilities, which sometimes means staying up late and waking up early.” She confesses. It's hard to find a balance in a busy life. That's why Alexa shares her tips on how she manages it all.
“I absolutely make 100% sure to carve out time for my loved ones,” Family is important to her. Whether carving out time means two hours in the middle of the day or five minutes before she goes to bed, she tries her best to get those moments. “It’s a mix of writing my plans down and just remembering them.” Taking a minute to write down her next move can be helpful but it doesn't always work that way.
“Staying productive and motivated can sometimes be a struggle, especially as a senior, but what keeps me pushing are my plans for the future, and the support of the people around me.” For seniors especially around this time they develop what people like to call ‘senioritis’. For Alexa, what keeps her motivated is her plans for the future, and building that path now. She puts in the hard work now, so later on it isn't so difficult. Alexa isn't the only one juggling a full plate. One grade below Nicolette Mammoliti has her own method for staying on track.
“Keeping busy and organized as much as I can be is what keeps me productive and it’s as simple as that.” Nicolette, a junior at WHS, discloses. She finds that a more tightly packed and time sensitive schedule keeps her more on track. Being productive isn't an option, it's just what she needs to do to continue.
“I decide on what is more important for example honor societies and education comes first then when I choose between clubs,” Nicolette works best by prioritizing. She has a systematic approach at deciding which comes first. “I would not say I lose time with family or friends at all because I gain friends from all the activities and my closest friends often have similar schedules to me, FaceTime is also amazing for my family that lives far.” She is a part of various clubs, honor societies, and rigorous academic courses at the high school. She has friends and family that support her through it all. She makes time for what she can and she makes friends along the way.
Prioritize what's important, delegate when possible. Keep a planner or an Index card like Nicolette. Figure out what needs to be done versus what can wait. Don't burn out, and turn to others for help when needed. Time management is hard, but once a schedule is created, that's when people can really show up for themselves and others.
Comments