School & Work: A Balancing Art

Paige Sheldrake & Abbey Soltis

Balancing school and a job can be difficult in high school, especially if you are in advanced classes that require more homework. As hard working students, you shouldn’t have to choose between work and school. It’s important to prioritize both, and to do so, you have to plan your school and work schedules ahead of time.
Start out by limiting the amount of hours you can work on school days. You might be working late, long shifts, and homework is not what you want to do when you get home. This makes it essential to make sure you have completed your homework when you have free time. Caitlyn Oates, a senior, says she manages to balance school and work by “doing [her] homework right when [she] gets home from school.”  Once a student manages to finish up their homework, they won’t have to worry about it when they come home after a shift. Anna Hall, another Senior, states that her job as a receptionist at a hair salon allows her to complete homework there when she has down time at work. If you have that option, you should definitely take advantage of it.

Senior Katie Grimm says she does the most important homework when she gets home, and if she has time before work, she will study for her tests and such. Grimm says that using her agenda book helps her a lot because she can plan her school schedule and her job schedule. Many students have to balance work and school but there are others who add sports to this list. Seniors Leanne Duncan and Grace Olson say that are they able to remind themselves of the tasks they need to complete each day through their agendas.
It is also extremely important to get the proper amount of sleep every night even if you have to work. Setting a bedtime will ensure you get enough sleep to be fully functional the next day.  Getting the proper amount of sleep will improve your focus, and make you far more attentive. Sometimes, quick naps between school and work can be enough to allow the necessary energy, especially if all of your homework is done. Without the right amount of sleep, it becomes very difficult to get everything done for school and manage a job.

Consistent, healthy meals are another important contributor to balancing school and work. Starting the day with breakfast is a good way to wake up and get the energy needed to make it through the day. Little snacks between meals can help make sure that you are energized through your school and work days. Staying well rested, eating energizing foods with protein and managing your time are essential to staying organized and balancing schoolwork with a job.