High school can be a huge adjustment for students throughout the world. With the harder classes, long hours, more extracurricular activities, and higher expectations, pressure is way higher. As soon as you walk through the doors of your high school, they’re preparing you to graduate and go to college. On top of stressing over academics, many kids are also worrying about their sports, music, and other activities.
We’ve spoken to many students and teachers here at Hempfield High School about their thoughts on the demands of high school, and this is what we found.
Two ninth graders, Alexis Arnold and Carter Rossi, told us about their high school experience so far:
Alexis Arnold, a student athlete, said, “During Field Hockey season, I definitely felt a lot of stress when we had night games that [were] away. I would find myself rushing the class before finishing my homework.” The demands of our student athletes who have honors and AP classes create so much stress that students do work the day of a class or the period before just to finish. However, the workload is a great way to teach high school students and young adults time management skills.
Another ninth grade student Carter Rossi stated his daily schedule: “I wake up at about 6, and get on the bus at 6:40. I go through my four periods and WIN. After school I go to study for about an hour. I get on a bus for band and go to the football game on Friday. Ending time depends on the game we are at, normally we get home at 10:30. I usually go to bed around midnight or 1:00 AM.” That is his daily schedule. He states that this is a pretty easy day for him through the marching band season. Carter states that he has about 2 hours of free time a day. Carter thinks that schools should be more understanding towards student athletes and those involved in musical activities. He thinks that they should try to think about how much homework they’re giving and how long it’ll take to complete it. He says that he doesn’t really have much stress from overworking and his activities. He says that the study hall he is given in band is enough to get his work done.
Oliver Wenditz, when asked about his daily schedule, stated, “I wake up at 5:30 A.M. and get to school at 7:20. I get home at 3. I wait an hour to decompress and then I do homework and other activities. I usually go to bed around 10:30 P.M.” Oliver states that he has a pretty good amount of free time normally, but he has way less when it’s musical season. Oliver thinks that schools can help students by giving them less homework or giving them extensions for their work. Oliver finally says that a lot of stress is caused by overworking and other activities. He believes that other people would agree.
Lastly we interviewed two teachers, Dr. Frick and Mrs. Crosby:
In response to being asked about time management for his students, Dr. Frick said, “Most of my students are ninth graders new to high school, so block scheduling is a wholly different system for them. With multiple units overlapping, I try to schedule activities in a way that has students working on one concept almost exclusively in class, so they do not feel overwhelmed. I encourage my students to seek help and feedback during WIN periods. While time management is an important skill for students to develop, I think it is important to remain flexible regarding due dates when students experience difficulties or challenges outside of school.”
When asked about student athletes and them being overworked, Dr. Frick responded by saying, “I have mixed feelings regarding student athletes claiming to be overloaded with work. I feel that extracurricular activities are very important to help students develop as young adults. This includes musical and spiritual activities in addition to sports. Some of the busiest students still find time to do all their work and still get sufficient sleep. As someone who participated in musicals and sports throughout high school, I know the importance of making a schedule and completing work, especially for long-term assignments, on nights where one is less busy. Many of my most successful students are involved in extracurriculars and take challenging classes. The key is that they understand their choices and maintain focus so they can achieve in both areas. Procrastination or spending WIN periods scrolling on a phone can really get in the way of success. I do concede, however, that club sports are very different from what I experienced in my youth. Competing in tournaments across and outside the state on a year-round basis may make it difficult to complete school responsibilities, which should come first.”
Time management can be tricky for students in extracurricular activities. Here is what Dr. Frick had to say about it, “Again, if I were advising students, I would encourage them to use their time wisely and monitor their electronic device use. Many teens seem to have trouble sleeping and respond to messages at all hours of the day and night. They should work ahead when it is possible, and in most cases, there will be sufficient time.
If teens sleep longer and better, they will experience improved mental clarity and be able to complete work faster. I would also suggest that students avoid procrastinating on major assignments. People claim to work better under pressure, but I argue that they work faster and often make errors under the pressure of a deadline.”
Dr. Frick states his stance on homework and giving “a lot of it:” “I don’t think giving “a lot” of homework is necessary, but outside work is important for students who envision attending college after high school. Almost every class will require outside work for students to demonstrate what they have learned, practice new skills, and prepare for the following class meeting(s). Doing outside work also trains one’s brain to feel fulfilled when work is completed. Further, independent work is a large part of success in the adult world.
Many times, students can complete a significant portion of their assignments in WIN. Interestingly, many choose to use the time for interactions with their phones. Down time is necessary, but phone time is not really restful for the brain, and it is amazing how “a few minutes” scrolling, gaming, or messaging can quickly turn into blowing a whole WIN period on activities that do not improve grades, focus, or relationships.”
We asked Mrs. Crosby the same questions. When asked about time management with her students she stated, “As a teacher, I believe it’s important to help students manage their time and workload effectively, so they can balance their academic responsibilities with other activities. I provide students with a clear schedule of assignments, quizzes, and test dates at the beginning of each unit. This helps them plan their study time in advance and avoid last-minute cramming. When applicable, I break larger assignments into smaller, manageable tasks with intermediate deadlines. This helps students stay on track and feel less overwhelmed. I incorporate regular reviews where students can ask questions and clarify difficult concepts. I also try to give feedback as quickly as possible so they can adjust their study habits before their mistakes or misconceptions become a bigger issue. Furthermore, I focus on teaching students how to break problems down into smaller steps. This helps them not only in math but other areas of life, especially when managing complex assignments or tasks.”
Mrs. Crosby’s stance on the conversion of overworking is, “As a teacher (and former student-athlete), I am empathetic toward student-athletes who are trying to balance both their academic responsibilities and their athletic commitments. I recognize that being a student-athlete can be incredibly demanding – both physically and mentally – and that the pressure to excel in both areas can often lead to overload and burnout. To that end, it is important to strike a balance. Sometimes, simply having an open line of communication between the student-athlete and teacher can make a big difference in reducing stress. With this knowledge I can offer flexibility whenever possible.”
Here are some of Mrs. Crosby’s tips on time management, “Managing a heavy workload is a skill that takes time to develop, and it’s okay to feel stressed sometimes. The key is being proactive, staying organized, and taking care of your mental and physical health. If you ever feel overwhelmed, reach out to someone — whether it’s a teacher, a friend, or a counselor — and don’t be afraid to ask for support when you need it.”
Finally she shares her opinion on giving an abundance of homework for her students. She responded by saying, “As a math teacher, I believe that homework can be an important part of the learning process, but quantity and quality matter significantly. My perspective is that homework should reinforce what students have learned in class and provide an opportunity to practice and solidify skills to prepare for more advanced concepts. However, I don’t think it should be overwhelming or excessive. Regardless, the time students spend on math homework can differ widely depending on their grasp of the material, their problem-solving strategies, their study environment, their ability to manage time and avoid distractions, and their learning styles. I try to be mindful of these differences and offer support when necessary.”
Through interviewing these students and teachers, we were able to get different perspectives on the issue of the demands of high school students. Many kids face these challenges and find ways to persevere through them. Even so, there are still many kids that struggle with the work that comes with high school and balancing their life outside of school. High school is a significant change in the way you learn from here on out. It can be stressful, but I can always allow students to have many opportunities and amazing experiences.
