Story by Sakara Chue and Alexis Vang

With the new school year, returning students are learning to balance school and part-time jobs. While some students are thriving, others have to learn to juggle different responsibilities. These students are entering a new stage of maturity, learning to handle the hardships of the real world and the responsibility of being a student. However, there are ways they handle that stress and balance their time with work and school.

Each student has different strategies for thriving under the pressure. For some, it came down to a certain mindset. “I try to separate work and school as two separate things,” said Daeton Jones, a Junior attending DHS. “I manage because I enjoy doing all the things that I do,” also said Jones

Students have other ways to cope with time management and stress, like writing a to-do list. “I manage stress by writing things down, like what school stuff I need to get done and when,” said Zoe Crosson.

A different student finds a way to handle responsibilities by planning ahead. “I have things to do at work, school, and with family, so I try to find space in between my schedule,” said senior student Yamilett Garcia Hernandez.

Other students decide to finish early and relax a bit for a brain break. “I try to do my school work in school and not at home,” said Evelyn Martinez Santos, adding that she manages stress by sleeping it off.

“I normally only work on the weekends,” said Evalin Vang, another senior student. For some students, working on the weekends allows many to be more engaged and focused in school during the week.

Although many students have different ways to balance school and work together, the variety of ways of handling responsibilities, planning, and flexibility helps them be successful in their own ways.