by Liv Whitlock

Let’s be real: school is hard.

Staying on top of your course load is a balancing act of maintaining high marks, participating in a variety of extracurriculars, and, somehow, finding time to enjoy your social life. Here’s a few ideas to help you juggle it all.

WRITE IT DOWN

Knowing due dates for your classes is kind of a given, but it can get hectic keeping track of a seemingly endless stream. There’s an easy fix for this: write it down.

In the moment, when a teacher blurts out a due date, it seems simple enough to just remember it. However, this is where a lot of students experience a gap in achievement. That one little date can get lost in the swarm of Spanish projects, math homework, English essays, and social studies quizzes.

“You’re never gonna think it’s gonna happen to you,” senior Josh Vawter said. “But I am physical proof. It definitely can be you. When I forgot to do [a guided reading assignment for Advanced Placement Environmental Science], it wasn’t a matter of not being a ‘good student.’ I just forgot. I know it sounds silly, but I’m expected to do so much in a day, so that one assignment slipped my mind.”

Knowing when things need to be done is crucial. But we’re all human, with only so much room in our minds for the long checklist of responsibilities, and only so much bandwidth to get it all done. So please, for your grades’ sake, write it down.

JUST DO IT

Planning is only going to get you so far though. You need to actually sit down and get it done. As simple as it seems, for the majority of students this is the hardest part of the whole process.

In the words of Ms. Bills-Tenney, an English teacher at Bellbrook High School, “You actually gotta do the thing.”

When checking things off that “to do” list, some things will take hierarchy over others. Though you should always try your best, let’s be honest, studying for a summative unit test is going to take more energy and focus than just a homework assignment graded based on completion. Knowing how to divide up that energy and focus is key.

PRIORITIZE

Going hand-in-hand with planning and “doing the thing,” prioritizing the big stuff is a vital part of being successful. Now this doesn’t mean exclusively doing the big stuff. It means you have to divvy up your time accordingly.

Be honest with yourself about how much time is necessary and allot yourself enough time to not only do it but do it well.

REACH OUT

At the end of the day, it is on us, as students, to be responsible and accountable for our course load. But that doesn’t mean we’re alone.

“I believe students are more successful if they have a strong support system of family, friends, teachers, mentors,” science teacher Mrs. Mann said. “The truth is that we all need help to succeed.”

Bellbrook High School is well-equipped with a staff of teachers, administrators, counselors, and others who want success amongst their students. They are more than willing to be supportive in any way necessary to make that happen. So if you are drowning in work, reach out.