At Bellarmine, the academic experience can be intense. The typical student at Bellarmine is recommended to have 30 minutes of homework per class, totaling one to two hours every night. However, this often does not account for the rigorous AP and honors classes that many students choose to enroll in, which typically have a greater amount of homework.
Extracurricular activities like football, theater, and robotics add another layer of complexity. Practices usually have more than two hours of practice every night making it very hard for students to get all their assignments done in time for their next class. For many, particularly the newer ones, the challenge of juggling both academics and extracurricular commitments can feel overwhelming
To help manage this stressful balance, here are some effective strategies:
Do Homework Immediately
Doing your homework immediately when you get home is a great way to stop yourself from putting it off and procrastinating. Junior Elle Wachter said, “As soon as you get home, do your homework because you are not going to do it at 10 o’clock.” Since Bellarmine has A and B days, you technically have two nights to complete your assignments. However, delaying work can quickly lead to a backlog of assignments.
Work with Friends
Working with friends to get assignments done is quick and effective. If you break up your assignment amongst friends, you could get it done in half the time. Having group calls with friends in your classes is a fun way to get things done quickly. Junior Cameron Ramirez said, “It’s good because you get to bounce ideas off other people.”
Talk with Teachers
If you feel like you have too much homework or you can’t get things done on time, talk with your teachers. Teachers don’t want you to feel overwhelmed and they understand how hard Bellarmine can be. If you stop in and have a chat with them, they may give you some extra time to complete your assignments or help you find ways to get them done quicker. English teacher Singer said, “It depends if a student comes to me well in advance, and based on multiple data points, I would determine whether or not to give them extra time.”
Listen to Yourself
If you find yourself feeling tired because you are overwhelmed with activities, take a step back and try to find the route of the problem. Junior William Embick said, “Get good sleep, and manage your time, don’t waste it, and don’t use it pointlessly.” If you know your activities are affecting you negatively, ask yourself if it’s worth it. How much would that activity affect your life if you left it? Or try taking a break and seeing how that affects you.
Balancing the demands of academic and extracurricular activities at Bellarmine is no easy feat. By using these strategies, students can alleviate stress and develop a more manageable routine. Balancing responsibilities is essential for the well-being and success of the Lion community.
