Jalen LeCounte
Dr. LaDuke
English 1301
December 5, 2014
My Everyday To-Do List
Being a teenager who is constantly moving can be fun at times, but having numerous amounts of responsibilities can change fun into stress in a matter of seconds. Having to juggle work, extracurricular activities, chores around the house, and school can impact one’s life in a dramatic way. Which transferred with me as I went to college to be successful.
Growing up in a household where working wasn’t a necessity makes it easy for me to appreciate everything that my parents have done for me from the time I was born till now. Work is one of the main reasons why most teenagers as well as I become stressed. Having to go straight from school to work isn't as easy as it sounds. Being in track practice until 4:30 and having to be at work by 5 is very difficult. Rushing from one place to another, then having to work from five o'clock to nine-thirty, getting home, settling down, and then doing homework becomes very tiring after doing it 6 days a week. As soon as I get home from work I rush to the restroom to take a shower and then I immediately do my homework. Sometimes I forget to eat because I try to finish all of my homework and I end up falling asleep. Whenever I fall asleep doing my homework the stress that I had the previous night follows me because then I have to worry about getting my homework done before I go to class where I have to turn it in. Nine times out of ten I usually finish but there has been a few times were I couldn’t finish and I would I have to turn it in for a late grade. Work is one of the many responsibilities I have on my to-do list.
Another responsibility that I have on my list is track. I spend more time practicing than I do with my family, working, and unfortunately homework as well. A regular weekday for me is: first through sixth period, dance from 1;40(seventh period) till 4:30, work, and then home. track practice consists of learning/ teaching technique and running in the cold to prepare for winter track meets which last for 2 months. Being in track for approximately 3 hours a day everyday of the school week is very tiring. Putting 100% of my energy and thought in practice drains my body mentally and physically but, if giving my all into something I adore so much helps me get through the day than that’s what I will do. Not only am I on the track team but I am also a captain. No, I don’t make up the workouts but yes, I do try to my best ability to push everyone at their limit. The coach’s requirements for the upperclassmen and me are the same every year. Making sure everybody come out to practice with the focus and mindset of getting better every day. Although working and practice may take just about all of my the energy out of me, I have and always will do whatever it takes to fight the stress that has been brought upon me and move on to the next day stress free.
As soon as I get home from working a four to five hour shift, I am usually mentally as well as physically tired. Being a senior makes it very difficult for me to be home stress free; if I’m not doing homework I’m filling out college application and if I’m not doing either I’m sleeping. Knowing that I’ll be leaving in less than a year makes my parents want to spend more time with me than they ever have. Being so involved in extracurricular activities that require a lot of time and energy makes it hard for me to even have an intricate conversation with my parents and brothers. When I do talk to either of my family members I try to hold a conversation but it never seems to work. Knowing that they had a long day at work and me coming in the house at 10 o’clock at night is like self-explanatory for tiredness. The main conflicts are usually my mother crying because this’ll be my last year in the house, my dad telling me how much he’s going to miss his “first born”, or from my brother and sister getting bored with me and end up leaving the conversation to play on their X-boxes. No matter who I talk to in my house there’s always something that ruins the discussion. I love being busy all the time; staying busy keeps us teenagers “out of trouble” says my mother all the time. Not only does it do that but it also prepares us for the future so that we aren’t as overwhelmed when we start to have a real job, we still might be stressed but it won’t be as bad because we’ve had experience. Sometimes I think that I should quit my job or track because it’s too much stress but, then I remind myself that this is to prepare me for the future and that this stress will all pay off.
With my senior year experience being extra busy it was a real practice of how college is. Not many people agree that having a busy schedule is exactly like college because some people just go to school and study every day. Not all people are the same, so everyone won’t agree that having that really occupied lifestyle can carry on to college success. That’s why with the examples I gave earlier helped me with the success I’m having now. My self-control, time management, and determination is the key to get to where I want to do and I’m thankful that I learned those key concepts throughout my senior year.