Homework a hassle for busy teens

By Casey Jones
Sissonville High School

These days, teenagers have a lot on their plates, and school and homework are probably the biggest things that they struggle with on a daily basis. Whether adults realize it, it can be very difficult to maintain a good GPA and also be a well-rounded individual.

Many students find it beneficial to participate in extracurricular activities. They can look very good on college applications, and they provide teens with a way to socialize in a safe, structured environment. However, it can be a challenge to keep up one’s grades when involved in outside activities.

Sissonville junior Kara Trivison is a member of the school choir. She believes that her extracurricular activities do interfere with her homework.

“My practices usually last until late in the evening, and, by the time I get home, there is little time for homework,” she said. “I usually wind up staying up until after midnight doing assignments.”

Of course, many adults will argue that school and homework are more important than outside activities, but what about work? Some teens must work in order to support themselves and/or their families.

“It really depends on the job that you have and what hours you work,” said Sissonville senior Ashlee Wilson on the difficulty of managing schoolwork and a job. “I only work until 8 p.m. at the latest, so it is OK for me, but there are some kids out there who work late hours and still manage to wake up and go to school. I don’t know how they do it.”

Even without extracurricular activities, it can still be challenging to incorporate the immense amounts of homework that teachers assign into daily routines. Getting the recommended amount of sleep in addition to spending all day at school adds up to over half the day. Then there are other necessary and unavoidable activities like chores, family time, hygiene, meals and transportation to and from school.

However, it is possible for students to maintain good grades while having fun in outside activities. Sissonville sophomore Christina Good explains how she balances the two.

“I’m involved with the band year round, and this takes up a lot of my free time. It is often difficult to spend time with my family, so I try to get them involved with the band as much as possible,” she said. “This helps us spend time together and it helps me continue doing something that I love.

“Homework doesn’t always get done when I’m with my family or with the band because they both take up a lot of my time,” she continued. “However, I always try to have everything completed by the due date. Working ahead isn’t always an option, but I do make sure everything gets completed and turned in on time.”

No matter what students decide to do outside the classroom, they must keep in mind the importance of doing well in school and always make sure that school comes first.