By Rachel Lamb

Stress is a huge factor in the lives of everyday high school students. Many have bigger responsibilities and extracurricular activities they partake in, as well as schoolwork and grades. Struggling to find the balance between school and their outside of school lives is a difficult task but for some it is just their lifestyle.

After drill team practice three days a week to her after-school shift at Polly Freeze, there is a pile of schoolwork remaining at home; however, senior Alessa Farnsley still manages to keep up with the pace.

“It’s not too difficult to juggle with school work because I always find time in between, even though I don’t get off until 10 on school nights,” Farnsley said

Farnsley added that the stress from her job does  affect her school work, due to the fact that she just wants to come home and sleep after her shift. Not only does she feel stressed with the amount of homework given, but her boss also manages to keep her extremely busy.

Students  that are without a job can have a hard time managing pressure that school gives them as well as their other activities.  They may not have a boss to please, but certainly a coach or instructor.

“It’s hard to juggle schoolwork everyday after football practice, but study table is always helpful,” said sophomore Garrett Sneed.

Football practice takes up a lot of time that students could be using to do school work. Dedication is required  in order to still put  school work first, such as having study table before football practice.

Sneed added that football  is the most stressful activity he is involved in since there is a new challenge to take on everyday.

Not all students struggle with balancing things they partake in.  A difference could be age, as students grow, more responsibilities are given.

Freshman Evan Michelle said that playing soccer and completing school work has not stressed him out too much yet this year. He agreed with Sneed that schoolwork should and does come first.

Most of the time teachers can tell when a student is overwhelmed. Grades, participation, or even the way they present themselves in the classroom is a big enough hint.

“I think it depends on their personality and the way that some of the students are driven to succeed no matter what,” said physical education and health teacher Juli Hutson.

Counselor Jessica Newkirk agreed that how each individual student copes  depends on their personality and what level of work they are already used to.

Newkirk added that being involved in sports or extracurricular activities might alleviate stress that the students carry on their shoulders.

When it comes down to it, all students are going to worry about juggling all that is in their schedule during their high school career. Learning how to handle the different stressors that contribute to it is the most difficult part.

“If you can get all A’s then that’s great, but having a balanced life is important too,” Hutson said.