To me, balance is something that I’ve found overwhelming and calming at the same time. In a time where everyone is always working, and things always keep moving, it’s hard to maintain a balance without having time to take a break and plan every careful step.
Not only during high school but growing up, I’ve always revolved my life around studio rehearsals and late-night dance classes. It was my passion growing up, and leading up to the fall semester of my senior year, the stress of college applications and keeping up with school all felt like it was too much to carry. I realized that the last few years especially have not had any single ounce of balance. Sometimes, I would think how different it would be if I didn’t have a 5-hour rehearsal after an 8-hour school day, and I never had a second thought about skipping. Leaving studio dance my senior year was one of the hardest decisions to make this year. Especially leaving my director, who I’ve had for the longest time, and my teammates, my ballet duo partner – it was hard to say goodbye. Although I still see them around a lot because I still dance, I’ve finally been able to create balance in my life. Although most days I feel more regret for leaving, I reflect back to the first few months of the semester and remember the stress I was under, it wouldn’t be possible to do it all.
Reflecting on last year has taught me how to create a balanced lifestyle. I’ve improved on balancing my school and home life since the end of last year, but I hope to make it even better this year – especially before I go off to college. It can be easy to forget to leave time for yourself, which leads to stress build-up over time. I want to create a peaceful and balanced schedule and close my time in high school on a positive note. For the last four years, I spent most days worrying over my academics and going to practice. Although there were many good moments in between, having a balanced lifestyle is something I’m working toward. Doing things with intention will make my schedule seem less overwhelming than it has to be, and bring more peace into my daily life.
Looking back at the first few years of high school, I feel like nothing has changed between then and now, but reflecting back on my experiences through the newspaper, drill team, and studio dance, I realize there have been so many moments of learning and growth.
I plan to create a balanced environment for the new year by managing time and setting priorities. Even in the chaos, I learned to find moments in between to rest which allow me to keep going. As I prepare for college, I want to carry these lessons and find more balance in my daily routine.