High school students are all too familiar with the stereotypical portrayal of teens in the film industry. These movies feature impersonal characters whose entire personality is defined by their status as a “jock” or a “nerd.” This creates the impression that students can only dedicate themselves to academics or athletics, with no life outside of their studies or sports practices.
Freshman Amaya Arora who plays tennis and senior Julia Gonzalez who runs cross country defy these stereotypes. These athletes have ambitious academic pursuits. Notably, they strive for leadership positions in their extracurriculars and dedicate their time in support of good causes. Even so, these students are able to maintain a healthy, balanced lifestyle.
Freshmen initially experience struggles managing the academic workload as they transition to high school. This is certainly the case for fall freshman athletes who must adjust to both physically and emotionally demanding sports practices amidst the typical high school stressors. Arora has developed the skills to succeed on and off the court, which is advantageous for her performance in both AP Human Geography and AP World History. Nonetheless, she has experienced adversities throughout this transition.
“Oftentimes I’ve had late nights when I come from tennis at like seven or eight pm and then I have to do work for another two or three hours, and I’ve often been a bit sleep deprived,” Arora said.
The pressure to accommodate rigorous academics and extensive sports training under time constraints seems unbearable. On the contrary, a healthy amount of pressure may be necessary to ensure success. Arora acknowledged that these time constraints often induce “a good kind of stress.”
“I feel a good kind of stress that’s teaching me to manage more stuff at once, and it is challenging me,” Arora said.
This motivational factor has encouraged Arora to develop better time management skills. This allows for success from an academic and athletic perspective. Further, it allows Arora time to accommodate some of the school’s exceptional extracurriculars. Currently, she intends to pursue HOSA and the Future Healthcare Professionals of America club, both of which align with her interest in the medical field. Beyond that, she makes time for relaxation to maintain a healthy lifestyle.
Gonzalez has experienced nearly all that our school has to offer throughout her high school career. This is mostly due to her equal passion for her academics and her extracurriculars. Notably, she runs on the school’s cross country team, serves as the captain of Lincoln-Douglas Debate, and has started an online business.
Although she has found success with the extracurriculars she has chosen to pursue, it wasn’t by any means an easy journey.
“Freshman and sophomore year there was a lot of anxiety of not knowing how to manage your workload,” Gonzalez said.
Students learn how to prioritize as they transition to the high school environment. For Gonzalez, this meant focusing more heavily on her academics and less on her athletics.
“I like exercising, it makes me feel good. It’s definitely a way to balance [my lifestyle], kind of a way to release the stress of the school day,” Gonzalez said.
Rather than adding an element of stress to her life, Gonzalez sought out cross country to serve as a brief respite in her busy schedule. This allows her to manage even the most time-consuming and mentally draining activities while caring for her health and well-being.
Clearly, high schoolers are more multifaceted than they are portrayed in films. These complex students are humans who are capable of so much when they are afforded the opportunities necessary for success.
