Right after stuffing that tired old backpack to the brim with each classes’ homework – rip, the zipper splits down the middle.  Many students’ backpacks are weighed down with textbooks, folders, and other homework each night, yet that is not all some students have to cope with. Countless young adults have sports, jobs, and other extracurricular activities taking up time as well. These students, even with everything they need to juggle, often end up doing well in everything they attempt.

“Positive Effects of Extra Curricular Activities on Students”, an article by Erin Massoni, states that even though busy students like these have less time on their hands, they often do better in school, and have better grades. Participating in school’s activities actually boosts a student’s desire to work harder and stay committed to everything they are in.

Each student has a different way of accomplishing the amount of work they have to get done. Sophomore Callie Loeschke, who is in eight activities – including volleyball, speech, and yearbook – said that “agendas help.”  Three sport athlete, SADD and Interact member  Mada Hofstedt says her strategy for keeping up with everything is to plan it out. “I’m a big planner…I have my school planner and I write my whole life in it so I don’t get anything mixed up.”

With dates and times of practices so close to one another, students are often rushing from one  activity to the next without much of a break. There is always a danger of conflicting activities, but as Callie states, for the most part it’s possible to work around them. Managing everything might actually be helping Callie prepare for later in life.  As professor of Education, University of Illinois, J Lloyd Trump stated in his article “Extracurricular Activities Improve Life Adjustment,” participation in extracurricular activities “gives training for work and other out-of school experiences.” He goes on to explain that those in many activities tend to have more friends and closer relationships with them.

With many activities going on there’s a lot of stress involved, especially if, as Callie says “sports games are late and you have homework. I have to alternate them so I don’t favor one or the other.” Yet through it all, each multi-tasking student manages to finds ways to take the load off and relax. As Hofstedt  says, “I always have my friends to hang out with.”