Susana Rojas, an 11th-grade student,  is balancing a demanding school schedule with dance, completing around 8–10 assignments in a typical week while also attending long dance practices. As a student taking several AP classes and participating in competitive dance, Rojas has to carefully manage her time between schoolwork and her extracurricular activities.

“As you know, I am in many APs, so my week is kind of full with homework. Normally I have like 8 – 10 assignments to complete in the whole week,” Rojas said. Her workload can become stressful when several assignments are due close together. “Sometimes what goes through my mind while thinking of the assignments I have to complete is that I feel stressed, overwhelmed, and unmotivated because that amount of homework is very challenging and oppressive,” she said.

Along with her regular schoolwork, Rojas spends several hours each week at dance practice. “For example, on Tuesday I have 4 hours of dancing class after school, and that is a very full day for me, because trying to complete all my responsibilities at school plus dancing and practicing at home the choreography for competition is very hard and sometimes I have to sleep sooo late,” Rojas said.

Her coach has noticed her commitment to dance. Coach Aleja Ruiz, who works at Be Academy, described Rojas as a dedicated student who rarely misses practice.“Oh, I’m so happy to tell you that Susi is one of the most responsible students! She never misses class unless it’s necessary,” said Coach Aleja.

Rojas has also had to balance important school responsibilities with dance events. Coach Aleja remembers a time when Rojas had an important exam and dance training on the same day. “She had to manage her time very well so that she could study and attend her training without neglecting either one. And although she managed to do it, she told me that she ended up going to bed very late,” she said.

Rojas’s experience shows how students involved in demanding extracurricular activities can face additional challenges when managing schoolwork. Although she is able to balance both responsibilities, doing so requires organization, discipline, and sacrifices such as staying up late. Coach Aleja believes that this effort can still lead to success. “But I think that whenever a student is disciplined, they can achieve it in the end and become very good and happy at both things!” she said.