by Sven Stumbauer
Frantically, I took off the suit and tie I'd been wearing all day and changed into my NBA Jam shirt and a pair of pants. Instead of going to bed, I rushed to my desk, facing the wall of assignments on OnCampus that had been neglected all week.
As the hands on the clock shifted towards midnight and my stress ball got increasingly more contracted with each use, I realized that all this work could have been condensed-eliminated even- yet here I was, subject to the consequences.
The hours spent on debate practices and meetings caught up with me, and the time I spent over that week playing Overwatch instead of studying further contributed to that dilemma. I became a temporary victim of over-commitment.
Students are not alone when they say that high school in general is hard academically, and the higher up you go in course rigor it only intensifies.
CCNN, Columbus' esteemed broadcast program, is an intense program. But team Vice President, Carlos Soto-Angulo can balance his honors and AP classes with his role in the club.
“I am able to balance all this because being in Columbus for four years has given me a good discipline to understand the rigor of my classes while balancing my home life,” he said. "But, it's definitely not something easy."
However, that doesn't mean students with an active schedule within and outside the classroom struggle to get an A or are constantly stressed. It isn't outside the realm of possibility to maintain a good GPA, be active in clubs, and have time to hang out with friends, grind a video game and travel stress-free on breaks.
No Matter What, School Comes First
Clubs at Columbus have always been taken seriously by the school. Moderators and students are passionate about what they do, especially in clubs where competition is its M.O. such as FBLA, Debate and Mock Trial.
However, this drive to compete and excel often causes students to dedicate as much time to their club as they do to their studies. But still, it is best to prioritize any schoolwork for the day before doing anything club-related.
Class of '24 alumnus James Sacher, the former president of CCHS Speech and Debate, a Mas Scholar, and now pursuing his undergraduate degree at the University of Notre Dame's Mendoza College of Business, concurs with this notion:
"The main thing I did to balance was that I would always put school work first no matter what and I would take advantage of any downtime I had, even if it was ten minutes here and there on a debate trip or getting some work in on a flight," Sacher said.
Time Management Is Key
Alongside the competitive nature of most CCHS clubs, some of them are time-intensive and require immense dedication to get the most out of participating.
The school's Drama team multiple times a week and practices for upwards of three hours leading up to competitions or shows. CCNN requires work daily to conduct morning shows and independent reports while maintaining its national pedigree. Model UN constantly prepares for conferences with delegates, who debate and write directives for hours.
With so many clubs and so little time, it's also important to space things out, manage your time and curb any potential distractions.
Benjamin Pagliery, a senior and Mas Scholar who is the President of Columbus' Patriot Club and Vice President of Model UN, strongly believes that time management and conscious tracking of your time spent on activities and school have helped him throughout his journey at Columbus:
"For me, the key to balancing extracurriculars and academics lies in scheduling and delegating. If you can work in a group and have each member tackle an aspect of learning, then many extracurricular doors open. On the other hand, make sure that you're not overinvesting time into your extracurriculars. Fulfill your role at home if necessary and use the time you freed up to participate in person." Pagliery said.
Don't Be Afraid To Take The Risk
Despite the challenges that come with the scholastic balancing act of extracurriculars and academics, the rewards are always bountiful.
Students who endure the challenge, walk the stage at the Watsco Center at graduation and away from Columbus with admission to universities that further their careers, valuable hard and soft skills and a sense of brotherhood within the existing one amongst all Explorers.
Also, when students do embark on this challenge, they'll never be alone. Not only can they share the load with their clubmates and friends, but the teachers of extracurricular-active students are always there to accommodate students bogged down in work and responsibilities, especially if they travel frequently to competitions to represent the school.
"Don't be afraid to take something on. A lot of the time we find ways to fit what we enjoy into our lives." Pagliery remarked.
To make a long story short, no successful debater, actor, robotics expert, businessman, entrepreneur or journalist from Columbus has been on their journey alone. And from Mr. Pugh's office to peers in the hallway, there are almost 2,000 people within Columbus' walls who will support and encourage you to take the next step.
Are you a member of any clubs in Columbus? If so, do you struggle to find a balance between school and extracurriculars?
I am in clubs. I struggle to find a balance.
I am in clubs. Balancing them with my classes is easy.
I am not in a club.
Leading by example! What a great article Sven and thank you for sharing some excellent ways to engage in activities while also making academics a priority.