![“I think getting up in the morning and having a sense of purpose [is exciting]. I think without a certain amount of drive, life is kind of obsolete and mundane, and I think having that every single day is what makes each day unique and kind of makes life exciting,” Neymika Jain (12) said.](https://harkeraquila.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/06/Screen-Shot-2017-06-03-at-4.54.16-PM.png)
![“My slogan is ‘slow feet, don’t eat, and I’m hungry.’ You need to run fast to get where you are–you aren't going to get those championships if you aren't fast,” Angel Cervantes (12) said. “I want to do well in school on my tests and in track and win championships for my team. I live by that, [and] I can do that anywhere: in the classroom or on the field.”](https://harkeraquila.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/06/DSC5146-900x601.jpg)
![“[Volleyball has] taught me how to fall correctly, and another thing it taught is that you don’t have to be the best at something to be good at it. If you just hit the ball in a smart way, then it still scores points and you’re good at it. You could be a background player and still make a much bigger impact on the team than you would think,” Anya Gert (’20) said.](https://harkeraquila.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/AnnaGert_JinTuan_HoHPhotoEdited-600x900.jpeg)
![“I'm not nearly there yet, but [my confidence has] definitely been getting better since I was pretty shy and timid coming into Harker my freshman year. I know that there's a lot of people that are really confident in what they do, and I really admire them. Everyone's so driven and that has really pushed me to kind of try to find my own place in high school and be more confident,” Alyssa Huang (’20) said.](https://harkeraquila.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/AlyssaHuang_EmilyChen_HoHPhoto-900x749.jpeg)
![“When I came into high school, I was ready to be a follower. But DECA was a game changer for me. It helped me overcome my fear of public speaking, and it's played such a major role in who I've become today. To be able to successfully lead a chapter of 150 students, an officer team and be one of the upperclassmen I once really admired is something I'm [really] proud of,” Anvitha Tummala ('21) said.](https://harkeraquila.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/07/Screen-Shot-2021-07-25-at-9.50.05-AM-900x594.png)
![“[Building nerf blasters] became this outlet of creativity for me that hasn't been matched by anything else. The process [of] making a build complete to your desire is such a painstakingly difficult process, but I've had to learn from [the skills needed from] soldering to proper painting. There's so many different options for everything, if you think about it, it exists. The best part is [that] if it doesn't exist, you can build it yourself," Ishaan Parate said.](https://harkeraquila.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/DSC_8149-900x604.jpg)
![“Animation just clicked in a way. I had been interested in art, but that felt different. [Animation] felt like it had something behind it, whereas previous things felt surface level. I wasn't making that crazy of things, but just the process of doing it was much more enjoyable," Carter Chadwick ('22) said.](https://harkeraquila.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/Screen-Shot-2022-08-16-at-9.44.08-AM-900x598.png)
Navigating through the spring: Moderation is key to balancing our work and wellness during this time of year
Even amidst the commotion of springtime, it is important to balance work to avoid burning out by the end of the year.
March 24, 2016
With numerous items on the docket during the spring, whether it’s getting an A on the second-semester report card, a five on an AP, an acceptance letter from a college or even a “Yes!” to a well-prepared promposal, it would be an understatement to say that students are rather anxious at this time of year.
On one hand, these end-of-year results may impact our entire lives. Will this internship application essay make the difference between a college acceptance or rejection? Imagine what will happen if my junior questionnaire goes unfinished. How will I pick my Laguna roommate?
Following this logic, we devote more attention to the outcome, sacrificing our health, rest and happiness along the way.
Balancing schoolwork and student life is, and always has been, key to enjoying the high school grind.
In a survey conducted by the Winged Post, students typically agreed that academic work causes the most internal stress when compared to extracurricular activities, college applications and other school-pertinent activities. Moreover, about 75% of responders claimed that they had two hours or less to themselves each day.
Balancing schoolwork and student life is, and always has been, key to enjoying the high school grind.
But it becomes critical now, especially when a final push may potentially tilt the results in our favor, that we moderate our workload and prevent feeling burnt out come the summer.
Consider the many outlets that Harker offers to relieve stress, among which are counseling, yoga and other exercise.
Perhaps ask for an extension on homework to hang out with friends. Long-term projects? Set smaller, achievable goals and scale up. We can better maintain a balance by stepping back and planning each day ahead of time.
As the finish line approaches, we naturally want to finish strong. At the same time, consider that most of the tests have been graded, admission decisions made and plans finalized.
Finish up your last few projects, take those final tests and Beat Stat, but do not let your end-of-year push overshadow your happiness or wellness as you prepare to step off campus for the last time this school year.
This piece was originally published in the pages of the Winged Post on Mar. 23, 2016.
