THE HEALTHY BALANCE BETWEEN SCHOOL, HOBBIES AND SOCIAL LIFE
BY DELARA BAKHTYARI
Venn Diagram. The Oracle.
You have probably heard the saying, “Life is all about balance.” It really is true, especially when it comes to managing school, hobbies, and your social life. Amelia, a successful college student currently attending Princeton University, knows what that’s like. In high school, she had to figure out how to handle it all. She reflects on her high school experience and shares valuable insight on how to maintain this balance.
Amelia emphasizes that “combining the three aspects of life: academics, activities, and social life,” creates a more enriching high school experience. One smart idea she shares is to make your hobbies social. For example, join a club or a team where your friends are, or make new ones while doing something you enjoy. This turns hobbies into social experiences, freeing up time to focus on academics.
Feeling overwhelmed is a common experience for high school students. Amelia shares “You can’t help feeling overwhelmed, but you can control how you deal with it.” Her personal method of de-stressing involves using sticky tabs to create to-do-lists. This method helps her keep track of tasks, so nothing feels too big to handle. While this strategy may not work for everyone, she encourages students to explore different approaches until they find one that helps them stay organized and manage stress.
Another good tip? Don’t wait until the last minute to complete tasks. Effective planning is key. Tackling small tasks daily can prevent work from piling up. Prioritizing assignments based on their due dates can also help. Because academic performance plays a significant role in shaping future opportunities, Amelia encourages students to prioritize schoolwork over extracurriculars and sports when necessary. And when it comes to picking between homework and a social event, Amelia suggests choosing schoolwork. Missing the occasional social gatherings will not derail meaningful friendships. True friends will still be there for you.
Although missing social events does not determine the outcome of your well-being, you can prevent missing out by using tools like planners, apps, or consistent routines to stay on task. However, Amelia reassures us that sometimes, despite your best efforts, you may still miss a deadline or an event, and that is perfectly normal. You will grow from the experience by improving your planning skills and becoming more proactive.
The people you surround yourself with also play a meaningful role in your growth. Good friends who are positive and supportive help you think more deeply about who you are, what direction you want your life to take and what kind of future you want to have. They remind you to stay true to yourself and push you to become the best version of who you are. Over time, the right friendships can help shape not just your choices, but also your confidence and the way you see the world.
Amelia says, “Where I am now, is the sum of all the experiences I had in high school.” She wouldn’t change any of it. Even the toughest challenges helped her grow. “Some days you will spend more time on school, other days with friends or on your hobbies, and that’s okay. In the end, it’s all about finding what balance works best for you.” Over time, the pieces of school, hobbies, and social life tend to even out, and together, they shape a fulfilling and meaningful high school experience.
