LAS VEGAS — Students attending South Career Technical Academy are overwhelmed with the mountains of work given to them. The amount of homework given creates stress and doesn’t allow students to have lives outside of school. Everything students do in and outside of school starts to build up and can become excessive for the students.

Students have lives outside of school, but that’s not what it feels like. Birkty Kassahun said, “For example, I have a job. Balancing my homework and my job takes a lot of effort and sometimes gets really stressful.” High school is supposed to be fun as well as serious, and students have other responsibilities outside of school. If schoolwork is already taking over their lives freshman year, how will students manage it in the years to come?

Schoolwork is important, but you should be able to hang out with your friends and enjoy your life as well. When I asked Kailee Damztler how she balances homework with friends and activities, she said, “I prioritize what comes first and then I see if I have room for everything else. If I don’t, then I just don’t do it.” For Damztler specifically, some things that can get pushed aside are competitive cheer, hanging out with friends, and church. Having to prioritize schoolwork can leave less time for the activities and people that are important to students. 

Homework can also take a significant amount of time. Kassahun said, “On a good day, it takes me maybe a few hours to get everything done,” depending on how many assignments she has. Along with homework, students may also have extracurricular activities, jobs, and other responsibilities after school.

Having free time can also be important for students. Kassahun said, “Free time is important to me because it helps me separate my school life from my life outside of school.” 

Damztler said free time is important because it gives students “a sense of your identity and creativity.” Both students' responses show having time off from school and the work helps students maintain lives outside of just school.

Homework comes with being a student and learning, but finding a balance between school and life outside of school can help students manage their enjoyable activities and relaxation without being overwhelmed.