A Coppell High School student’s bedroom can consist of many things, including but not limited to a phone blasting music, homework pulled up on a device and a hardworking brain organizing tasks. 

The reason for the effort and attention paid at CHS is common: college applications. It is the finish line for students who have worked tirelessly their entire high school career to stack their application with outstanding extracurriculars and stellar academics. 

Everyone sees the outcome of these applications, with students repping University of Texas at Austin “hook’em horns” or Texas A&M University “gig ‘em” on their social media. But no one sees the journey it takes to get there.

Many CHS students utilize extracurriculars and coursework, struggling to balance an excess of schoolwork with outside activities. 

Students can manage their tasks promptly with organization methods and prioritization, preventing unmanageability. 

“I’m not going to keep [a bad rehearsal] in my mind and keep thinking about it when I’m in the water or when I’m doing my schoolwork,” sophomore JV swim & dive and varsity theater member Ranveer Choudhurry said. “I have to think about one thing so I don’t get overwhelmed. When I get overwhelmed, things start to fall apart and if I don’t, everything will stay together.”

High schoolers learn to organize their work to overcome deadlines and manage the work in the classes they choose. 

“I make sure to space everything out and never wait until the last minute,” senior Eco Club officer Sophie Zhang said. “I always do everything by deadlines. I don’t like to procrastinate.”

This allows practical time given to academics and extracurriculars. One highly effective way to do this is creating lists and schedules.

“My most efficient method is writing it down and maintaining a calendar or just writing down whenever things are due,” said junior Sree Pitani, who takes seven Advanced Placement (AP) classes. “It helps me manage my time, split tasks between days and not cram everything in one go.”

It is beneficial to write down assignments based on when they are due and complete them in chronological order. A method of organizing tasks can make homework easier and lighten the load when coming home.

Organizational techniques allow for time management, giving students space to do something for themselves. 

“[High schoolers] have tons of things to do and things going on,” CHS lead counselor Ann Cinelli said. “And I think it’s really important to really know how am I managing my days?”

Prioritizing mental health by doing enjoyable things can make completing hard tasks easier because the brain gets a break from overworking. Taking care of your body is also important to keep up with a workload.

“Make sure you’re getting enough sleep,” Cinelli said. “Make sure you’re eating and also make sure that every single day you’re doing something for you that makes you feel really happy that fills your bucket.”

Work requires relaxation and breaks to function smoothly and make an effective effort on something you enjoy.

“Anything that you are in love with requires a lot of effort and allows you to deal with stress because obviously it’s something you love to do and you want to do well in it, but you also don’t want to overburden yourself,” sophomore USA national development debate member Sidharta De said. 

There are many different tools for managing a student’s burden. Even doing something you love requires a big mental load, so it is important to keep time for yourself while also being able to manage a busy schedule.

“What might work for me will not work for you,” Cinelli said. “And so you really just have to try on a couple different things to see what does help you relieve your stress.”

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