How do people do so much?

<p>There are some people who are in like, 5 clubs and 2 varsity teams and all AP classes… how do they do it!? I don’t mean intelligetnly, I mean physically. If sports are everyday and they have a club everyday, how do they do everything? Do they skip sports every other week or something?</p>

<p>I am thinking of joining a sport b/c it’s good to get into the USAFA, but how can I do that with photo club and student council and Civil Air Patrol. I guess students are allowed to skip sports often for other things? I should talk to my gym teacher about this, but can anyone help me out for the time being?</p>

<p>Dedication is key. You don't want to waste your time doing things that just look good on your transcript. Pick activities that you really like and will excel in. A big part of USAFA (as I see it) is time management. You gotta learn to prioritize and do things effeciently. You can't be involved in everything either. Whenever you think about joining a club or sport or doing anything you gotta be willing to dedicate yourself to it.</p>

<p>I think USAFA would rather see you involved in a few things that you are really dedicated to than a whole long list of things you did just to do them.</p>

<p>hey chill out about the activities a little. they are important, but you shouldn't stress about them. it's really not that hard to balance school and sports. it's all about dedication. i find that the more i do the better my grades are. it forces me to set my goals on completeing stuff. it's all about the dedication. i'm taking a full load like you and the key to balancing stuff is goals. set a point to focus on and get it done. don't try to9 do everything. pick some stuff and be dedicated. and chill a little.</p>

<p>I have numberous after school clubs, like 4, and I hold leardership positions in all of them, so i basiclly have afterschool clubs every single day. I also swim on the varisity swim team. In addition, I have 7 IB (kinda like AP) courses, while maintaining a 3.95 GPA. One trick that you could try is to see if the sport that you do can be substituted for a club sport. For example, I am on a club swim team that practices on a latter time, after the clubs are finished. My coach allows me to substitute normal high school practice with club practice and I just have to go to the competitions (club practice is normally more intense). Or you could not do high school sports, and just participate in club sports. So I don't start homework until about 8:00 pm and go to bed at 12:30 am (on a good day). I have to admit that everyday is a challenge- I have to try to stay awake in class and I get less energy to swim, but my reasoning is that the academy is going to be tough and the more used to you are with the busy schedule, the better you'll adjust. So if you want to go to the academy, I'd push myself to the limit. Good luck! I believe you can do it.</p>

<p>You really don't need an insane amount of extracurricular stuff. It's better to pick a few things and really excel in them rather than putting a half-hearted effort into a large amount.</p>

<p>I had a 3.95 GPA, 3 AP/honors classes, 1 varsity sport, 1 club, and joined civil air patrol my senior year. I got an LOA in January and a principle nomination not much later.</p>

<p>I'd say the key things to focus on are taking a few AP classes and doing well in them, getting a varsity letter, and maybe having solid involvement with one club. As long as you're strong in all areas you really don't need much more.</p>

<p>I think a few focused extracurricular activities will get you into the academy. You don't need a ton of it. I'm saying you should push yourself to the limit so that you could adjust more easily. Thought I should make that distinction.</p>

<p>One good thing about being really busy before you get here is that the load of stuff here shouldn't be as overwhelming. Learning time management and prioritization is key.</p>

<p>well, ima freshman, im cadet staff sarg in Air force Junior ROTC, im currently in that club while on the drill team and in the senior chorous, i hold leadership positions in all of them, i was commander of the falcon new cadet sqad basic(a winning team). and im second in command to my section in my squadron, i wake up at 0500 to go to drill practice from 0630 to 0800 then i have classes from 0800 to 1530, after that i go to ROTC and do cadet crorps work, i usually go home around 1800 or 1900 on busy days, then i have a ton load of hw and corps work and i still need to study because i want to maintian my 3.8 average. i usually go to sleep at 2400. usually i dont get not even 4 hours of sleep, i wanted to be in the football team, but i coudnt handle the stress. im goin to join next year and this time im not gonna quit</p>

<p>Shouldn't the academy want their cadets to get more than 4 hours of sleep so they can work at their full potential?</p>

<p>After a while, sitting at home and doing nothing gets really.. REALLY boring. I feel really uncomfortable if I'm just sitting down and doing nothing. I have to be moving. So juggling a lot of extra-curriculars isn't as bad as it seems. </p>

<p>I started sports my junior year and my coaches were really strict about being on time. I had meetings for clubs 3-4 times a week, so I just told the coach that attendance was mandatory and that I'd make up for it after practice. Give and take. You'll be fine.</p>

<p>That's great to hear, rtbcadet15. I thought the same thing too ("I feel really uncomfortable if i'm just sitting down and doing nothing"). However, after second semester senior year and now that swim season is over, I feel so lazy. I used to have a really busy schedule and enjoyed it, but now it's different. Is anyone feeling the same way? Sometimes I wonder if AFA isn't right for me anymore....</p>

<p>Yeah...... I admit, I've been a lot lazier than I have been in high school... EVER...</p>

<p>Yep, insane laziness here. The only thing that kept me going through my crazy schedule of sports and difficult classes was thinking "it's all for the afa.." but now that I'm in....bye bye motivation :p</p>

<p>Yeah, I think I've contracted a severe case of senioritis.</p>

<p>Prioritize! What do you love to do? So, go do it! Some people are nuts, just do what works for you (and challenges you). One of the best way to bend schedules is to talk to your coach. Tell them what you need and show them a good reason. They will probably find a way to make it work. </p>

<p>Four hours of sleep is not recommended. (I run on 6 hours, but that can be a drag.) Yes, senioritis is setting in...just 6 more weeks...</p>

<p>I'm trying to make it through 7 days...they sure like to pack all those last minute papers and tests right at the end.</p>

<p>K10, I can't remember (you've probably said this somewhere on here), but are you in HS or college? It seems really early for a HS'er to be getting out.</p>

<p>HS...I go to a private school. The academic year is over for me on 5 May, but I have "senior internship" for the three following weeks. Graduation isn't until 10 June either so...I'll just be breaking in my boots.</p>

<p>Ahh, ok. I get out of college on May 9th, and have literally NOTHING for the next 6 weeks until I-Day. I'm just fighting to get through the vast piles of things I need to get done by the 9th...then relative paradise for 6 weeks, then back to the old (actually, new, but much more difficult) grind.</p>

<p>Multitasking can be a drag. Its difficutl as hell but hey! what are u fighting for? what is your ultimate goal? just remind yourself of what you are fighting for. Here's is a tip: find an excurricular activity that doesent interfere with school or your other ecs. Sumtin like before school starts or on weekends. For example my drill team meets before school at 6. and my other cadet corps meet friday nights and that drill team meets on sundays. prioritization is the key. time management is the key. once you adapted and prioitize just stick with it and ull develop leadership qualities.</p>