Having to be in school for 7 hours and 15 minutes may seem bad enough already, now imagine having to go to work right after that. That is the life of many of you, here at Santaluces. Aside from work, some students take on extracurricular activities, like a sport or club of some sort. On top of all of this, some even decide to dual enroll.

Although everything aside from school is an option, students are still inclined to stress out over these things since it will look good on college applications. Adults hold high expectations toward students and this may at times place a burden on them instead of encouraging them.

“Basically, I’m taking 7 classes at school and then an extra class at night. So, I have more homework, which is pretty stressful,” stated Crecia Lumas, 12th grade, when asked how she felt about taking on dual enrollment classes. “My parents support me in taking dual enrollment classes but at the same time, they put more pressure on me to pass all of my classes, not understanding that I have a big pile of homework to complete in a week for 8 classes.”

It’s okay to take a moment to breathe. As a student, there is no necessity to have everything figured out yet. High School is an amazing time to find your style, friends, likes, dislikes, and so much more. It is important to figure out who we are and what we want in life but that does not mean that there is no time for fun or time for fresh air.

Throughout your life, school is the one place you spend most of your time at. These 4 years will never happen again once they are over, they are over. With that being said, make them count, create a story that can be told at college parties and family dinners. Go to every sports game, school dance, pep-rally, assembly, and even after-school events. Some of the best memories can be created at these activities. Don’t let somebody make you feel bad for having school spirit. Nobody wants to look back at their high school years and wish that they had done more. Stay on top of your work, have fun and remember to breathe.