Tips from Students: Balancing Schoolwork and After-School Activities

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By: Achendra S.

The school year has started and already many students in the AISG community have eagerly signed up for the after-school activities (ASAs) and proved their commitment to the school community. But, the real challenge to test the might of the participants is to balance academics and their ASAs. 

What is balance and some practical tips; 

Grade 10 JC F. participating in VEX robotics, shares his idea of balance. 

Balance to him is when an individual manages to perform well academically whilst still committing to ASAs fully. JC has brought up this solution, he said, “If you struggle to balance ASAs with academics, simply just stop doing ASAs until you can figure out how to even create time for an ASA in the first place. If you can’t do more, then don’t do more, it’s as simple as that.” 

Grade 11 Ezra J. also emphasizes the weight of quality of sleep on the human body. He said, “I never sacrifice sleep even if it means having work to do the next day, having around 8 hours of sleep is incredibly important and helps me function and not fall behind in any other classes.”  

Staying on track with different types of ASAs  

Grade 11 Ezra J. and Alex Z. have both been selected for the Varsity Boys Volleyball team this season.  

Here are their tips: Ezra J. finds that using free time or finding some time to recharge or focus helps him stay sharp. He said, “Instead of scrolling on social media during breaks, I use that time to recharge naturally through activities.” 

 Alex Z. , on the other hand, uses digital tools to stay on track with the work.
He said, “Setting up and sticking to a Google Calendar helps me keep everything organized and make the most of every free moment.”  

On the other hand, for grade 10 Eva R., who participates in APAC strings and cross country, physical rest is the key to be able to sustain the productivity required during school days. She said, “I sleep on the bus and then work at home.”  

She recommends using calendar and reminder apps to keep track of tasks. But being organized is not the only tool to stay on track, she also recommended that students simply need to work hard and try their best. 

Support and Self-Management 

All these students have something in common. They all have a strategy to balance their Academics with their ASAs. Across the different ASAs, the strategy that stood out the most was the importance of rest as Eva R. and Ezra J. have highlighted. Even if it was the most common strategy, it shouldn’t be overlooked by others. Disciplined scheduling, using organizing tools and having a balanced mindset even if it requires sacrifices shows that sometimes, the right thing to do is do more work or put more effort than the normal amount so we can adapt ourselves to the school system.