Some days I feel like I have it all together. Other days, I’m just trying to remember what day it is. Finding balance in my life has been a constant work in progress as my junior year unfolds. 

As President of Green Club, Secretary of KAY (Kansas Association for Youth) Club, STUCO representative, NHS (National Honors Society) member, a member of the dance team and Shift Lead at Dutch Bros, finding balance can feel impossible sometimes. 

Being a high school student is stressful enough but the past couple months have really been a learning experience for me. 

My extracurriculars involve a lot of volunteer hours, so to keep track of all these events I write them in my planner. Each club or activity has their very own highlighted color so they don’t get mixed up. I’ve found this has been very beneficial to staying organized and making sure I don’t miss any events. 

As my high school years started to fly by, I really saw who my real friends were. It may sound cliche but the people you surround yourself with, influences your future in a huge way. The people you want by your side are the ones that support you, not tear you down. 

I started to really focus on if I liked the person I was when I hung around certain people. I then found my small circle of friends that cared about me and supported every achievement I made. This was a big turning point in my life because having a strong support system is crucial for your mental health. 

It’s easy to get stressed out when you’re involved in so many activities, this is why your mental health is so important. Sometimes you are so busy that you forget to take care of yourself. Making time to do things for you is very important. Whether it’s reading a book or taking a break and getting that extra ten minutes of sleep, it all matters, even the little things. 

If you put your energy into the right things, you won’t be so tired.