Solrun’s School Survival Guide for Struggling Students

By Solrun Heuschert, Reporter

The transition from summer break back to school can be rough to say the least. Sometimes, it feels like never-ending work, and we are always counting down the seconds to weekends, breaks, and especially summer. But consider how many people have survived school, with the help of teachers, parents, peers, and mostly self-determination. Here are some crucial things to remember that could really make your life easier.

• Use school time oh-so-wisely: “Take advantage of SMART and … time in class to do your homework,” said A-student, sophomore Mabel Moses.
• “There’s a lot of wasted moments spent procrastinating,” agreed ASB co-president senior Isaac Hughes.
• Missing classes for sports or other reasons: Use the online resources given to you. Bookmark all your teachers’ Google Classrooms or teacher websites and get in the habit of checking them every night!
• Don’t overwork yourself: Yes, you have a busy schedule, but you’re still the boss of your life. “If you feel overwhelmed,…  maybe it’s a good idea to drop something or refocus yourself,” said senior Abby Fiano; editor and chief of the yearbook.
• Schedule in time to do your homework and don’t get into the habit of late nights.
• “Don’t be afraid to do your homework in the morning, early,” said senior David Nguyen. “Don’t stay up till 12. In fact, I actually recommend that you…  go to bed when you’re tired, and just wake up early and take care of it.”
• Don’t procrastinate!: It can be easy (and sometimes inevitable) to get sucked into the latest episode of “Orange Is The New Black” on Netflix, but resist!
• “Set a timer,” said Nguyen. “Turn off your electronics, put your phone away, just set it down, try your best not to pick it up. That’s usually the biggest problem for most people.”
• And finally, use a planner. Just get one, write events, homework, quizzes, tests, etc. down the second it pops into your head or gets assigned. Soon it will be second nature.

Remember, everyone is going through the same things you are. The key is to find a balance between school, friends, sports or other activities, and sleep. There is no set way to live your life during high school, that is something you have to find for yourself. But if you ever feel too overwhelmed, remember there are counselors, teachers, peers, and so many other people that are happy to help.