By Nkem Ebhaleme
Starting a new semester always feels like a fresh chance to reset, grow, and challenge myself. This year, I’m especially excited about balancing school with my first job while also preparing for college. I know it won’t always be easy, but I see this semester as an opportunity to test my time management skills and figure out how to balance responsibility also with my personal growth. One new thing I’ve taken on is joining the Student Blog, which is something I’m very interested in and hope to continue with in the future. My schedule reflects my goals of staying on track academically, and gaining real world experiences through work and volunteering, and preparing myself for life beyond high school.
My classes this semester include Algebra II, Spanish III, Physics, English, Fashion Design, and U.S. History. I usually work independently, but I also attend live lessons when I feel they’ll help me grasp concepts better. I tend to complete most of my assignments within one or two days, which leaves me extra time throughout the week to study for a specific subject more deeply.
Outside of classes, I volunteer in local community services, which doesn’t take up too much of my schedule since ASUPD is so flexible. Between school, volunteering, and starting a job, I’ve had to be very intentional with my time. To stay organized, I use my Notes app and Todoist. These tools keep everything in one place and make it easier to break down bigger tasks into smaller, more manageable steps.
One of the most important lessons I’ve learned at ASUPD is that procrastination makes everything harder. It’s easy for work to pile up if you don’t stay on top of it. Now, I set clear goals each week, balance out a certain amount of work each day, and reward myself once I get it done. This keeps me motivated and prevents me from falling behind. My routine has improved a lot since I first started, and I’ve found that sticking to a plan while still being flexible makes me feel more in control of my academics and my personal life.
If you’re new to ASUPD, my biggest piece of advice is to give yourself room to experiment with your schedule. Everyone works differently, and it may take a little time to figure out what rhythm works best for you. Don’t be afraid to try new strategies, and remember that ASUPD’s flexibility is one of its biggest strengths
– Nkem Ebhaleme (Student Blog)
