How do you guys have a life when you're so busy?

<p>I'm only applying to high schools yet I barely have time to practice the piano. It's winter break and I wish I could hang out with my friends, but I have to finish... How do you guys manage being social with friends while doing well with ALL your education-related work (homework, SAT's, applications, essays, soccer, violin, etc.)? Or do you drop hanging out all together? I'm so curious.</p>

<p>I hang out late at night on weekends...probably 6pm-12AM Fridays and Saturdays. It's fun and it fits into my schedule...</p>

<p>I can't go out that much (once a week or so) cause of transportation issues haha but I'm always online or on the phone. I just work really late into the night and do work in classes (for other classes).</p>

<p>I don't do a sport or instrument though.</p>

<p>When I get my license I'll be out almost every afternoon though heh.</p>

<p>
[quote]
I barely have time to practice the piano.

[/quote]
</p>

<p>Hey, I don't even practice anymore. I used to play two hours a day, but I couldn't do that anymore because my grades were slipping. So once high school began, I decided that piano was, sadly, dropped even farther down the priority list. I'm working on it, though.</p>

<p>As for social life (movies, shopping, etc.), I probably get out once a month or so. Not much, but hey, it's better than nothing, I suppose. Usually, it's because my parents don't have the time to take me to places, but now that I'm eligible to take my license test, I'm hoping that I can become a little more independent. In fact, I'm going to go arrange that appointment right now. Haha.</p>

<p>I have 6 AP classes including one night class and a language class. On top of that, I have quite a few extracurricular commitments and college apps to work on.</p>

<p>I don't play an instrument (unless piano and guitar recreationally counts), so that probably gives me some extra time.</p>

<p>However, I have found a way to manage my time so I can go out every Friday and Saturday and sometimes during the weekday. You just have to keep up with your work and make sure you're not falling behind.</p>

<p>If I have free time, I'm sure you have free time.</p>

<p>you WILL find yourself some free time:) don't worry.</p>

<p>although I can't go out much, only about once a month or so, I'm still pretty content with it. I practice both my piano and cello, but not as often though. only few times a month. During winter break/summer I definitely have more time for practice, but both of them are just my hobbies and they will continue to be.</p>

<p>but APs and the workload do almost kill you though. lol. I mean HOW MANY ALL-NIGHTERS OR SOMETHING CLOSE TO ALL-NIGHTER HAVE I PULLED ONLY DURING MY JUNIOR YEAR???? urgh// my junior year was quite ugly. I really don't wanna go back to junior year. I even studied till like 3, 4ish on the day BEFORE the AP test, cramming... and it actually helped a LOT, but I don't advise you do this. (you might fall asleep during the test;))</p>

<p>Senior year is definitely easier although it is MUCH more stressful due to the tedious, pain in the ass college applications. lol.
I just wish all this **** is completely done.. then I could finally have some life!!! I'm dreading for next year to come, but also looking forward to it soooo much. :D</p>

<p>I'm usually always busy - I'm in three music ensembles and I'm an active member of my school's drama department. But I have a dry-erase calendar board in my room. So I write my schedule and known plans for the month than see what days I'm open and hang out with friends then. And usually I'm not too busy on weekends, so Fridays and Saturdays are always perfect hang out days (after practicing for about 2 hours in the morning). Then I do the study-homework thing on Sundays.</p>

<p>It's not too hard if you keep organized enough.</p>

<p>Ummm...
1. talk during class
2. talk between classes
3. talk at lunch
4. talk at locker
5. talk before/during/after practice (cross-country, track, swimming)
6. talk on the phone
7. e-mail/IM/snail mail to friends
8. ditch homework for one night to go out, even if it's just for a walk with friends
9. show up early to school to talk
10. everyone ditches their thing on the same night to hang out</p>

<p>Ditching homework once or twice will not bring your GPA down too much, if you know how to handle it.</p>

<p>I seldom need to talk to others, but I could do so frequently because I do most of the time-consuming work during lunch or classes. Besides, written homework is uncommon, even with 3 APs; we have tests about once every two weeks.</p>

<p>Simple... I don't have a life.</p>

<p>Oh yeah I basically do half my homework during classes or during lunch the day it's due. That gives me plenty of time to procrastinate and work on EC's after school.</p>

<p>Friends? What are those?</p>

<p>But seriously, I tend to either get things done early (hasn't been happening recently) or if I end up procrastinating (like with all these college apps) I'll finish them all as quickly as possible, usually during weekends, and hang out with friends afterward. Somehow I get it to work.</p>

<p>I go out with my friends on Friday nights. It's "our" day, you know. There's no hw on Friday, what are you busy with exactly? I guess I am lucky that there's also no track practice on Friday. But on weekdays - forget it :(</p>

<p>See your friends and do extra-curriculars. For example Key Club; so many of my friends are in the club so we all do community service together while getting community service hours; not only is it great to help your community but I also get to see my friends. Another idea is to hold a study group, but study! My friends and I all have different strengths in different classes; by helping each other out we all do great in school and still remember what each of us looks like. :)</p>

<p>I barely got out much freshman-junior years. I was always alone doing school work. Well ok maybe that is an overexaggeration, I did get out on weekends, but weekdays not really. Junior year was defintely my worse year. I pulled an all nighter trying to get 5 essays done for AP Brit Lit last year at the end of the year. That was insane. This year is a little easier, mainly because I stopped caring to an extend and also cause I rarely go to school anymore. So I'm out doing something almost every night unless I'm working which is Mon-Weds from 4-10 then again on Saturday 9-8. So other than that, i'm out a lot, and I usually will rush to get my homework done or like the others said, do it during lunch. I have all 3 lunch periods to do it which is about an hour and a half. The only problem is, I have lunch with all my friends so it's hard to do work, so I'll just try to get them to help me. lol</p>

<p>Two very simple ways to have a life
1. do you hw in the subject's class. English papers do in computer class (you should have one).
2. Dont be a grade grubber. A few points on an english paper wont kill you.</p>

<p>If you follow these steps you will not have to do more than 1 or 2 hrs of hw at home. Then you can go out everynight and do whatever after school.</p>

<p>For me, I enjoy my extracurriculars. All the clubs and activities I participate both in school and out of school are also opportunities for me to socialize and hang out with my friends.</p>

<p>And to the OP, if you're going into high school or are a freshman, I highly suggest creating an extensive network of friends. I cannot tell you how important they are, nor can I count the number of times they have saved me.</p>

<p>No one bothers to ring me at home anymore because I'm rarely at home on weeknights..</p>

<p>That's where the cellphone comes in handy.</p>

<p>I plan my social events around Friday nights and Sunday.</p>

<p>My soccer team consists of few of my friends, and my other friends usually have some other club activity going on that finish at the same time as my soccer practices. And we usually just see each other after school that way.</p>

<p>I always see my friends everyday at school anyway so not seeing them in weeknights are not that much big of a deal.</p>

<p>But then, I'm not like the average cc with hardout ECs and grades.. so I dont think I have much of a busy life like most of you's.</p>

<p>1 word. No time. Running intercity organization + study sats + 4 cores + essays ain't easy.</p>

<p>Kate, here's the breakdown. The resume. The life. The sleep. Pick two.</p>