<p>My family doesn't understand how long my homework takes or how long I need to study. I live in a small trailer with one table and extremely thin walls. My siblings (2) and my cousins (I have a younger cousin that comes over everyday from 3-8 and one that comes less occasionally) play COD with the volume up to an astronomical level... shutting my door doesn't help at all (thin walls... volume up to an extremely high level) and, I also share a room with my brother. </p>
<p>I need at least 90 minutes a day to do homework (5 AP classes) if I don't study for tests and only do homework. My mom is not allowing me 90 minutes. She says I should let them have fun because they are kids. My siblings and cousins don't like me because I'm a "kill joy" by wanting to do my homework... This is really stressing me. She says I should drive to the library. That'd be cool and all but, gas is expensive. I also don't really have time for a job. I have varsity cross country, math team, debate team, varsity track, science olympiad, scholars bowl, NHS, and homework.</p>
<p>I can't stay up till 1 a.m. like some of the other people on CC. My performance is counted on in my varsity sports (top 3 in xc and top middle distance runner in track) and on math team. I need the sleep to function; I'd preform awful in my extra curriculars and on tests. I don't even get home till 5... is it really all that unreasonable to want 90 min of no TV or reasonable quietness for me to do homework? I've even offered for my siblings/cousins to use a headset so there is little to no sound of everyone else but, they declined. </p>
<p>I don't know what to do guys... I know this is just rambling and venting but, this is really stressful. My college I'm most likely attending gives a scholarship for a 4.00+ gpa (right now I get full tuition but, if I get a 34 on the ACT and a 4.0+ gpa then I'll get room and bored too). I have a 3.9 something but, they said they'd factor in the first semester of my senior year. I did the math and I can only have 2 B's or 1 C. I'm afraid my grades will drop, my times in track will get worse, and/or my performance in math team and debate team will suffer. What should I do?... :/ </p>
<p>Also I can't go to my cousins' house... there is a 3 year old there thats really loud and pitches HUGE fits when tvs are off so, every single TV in that house is on...</p>
<p>Is it possible to drop an ec so you have time to get home earlier? If you can’t stay up late and you need a lot of time, you may just need to compromise and cut down on activities. There really is no easy solution and I’m sorry you have to go through this. Or maybedrop an ec and get a job so you have money to go to the library?</p>
<p>Getting to home earlier wouldn’t help; they literally play xbox 3-8 and once my cousin leaves my little sister plays till around 10-11. The only EC I could drop that’d let me get home early all the time would be track and xc. I’m not dropping those ever; way too important for me. Also our team would greatly suffer. I’d still need my sleep to preform well on tests so, I still wouldn’t stay up past 11. </p>
<p>Job wise, thinking about it… with the amount of hours I’d be able to work I don’t think it’d even be able to pay it… (Leave school at 5… shower… work at 6. I’d have to work probably around 3 hours. Finish at 9. Drive to library 9:30. Do work 11. Get home 11:30) I don’t think It’d work. </p>
<p>My schedule for ECs go
Monday. Math team 3-4 debate 4-5
Tuesday-Friday XC 3-4:30 (wednesday I’ll be at scholars bowl till 4:45) </p>
<p>The sponsors for all my EC’s don’t require me to attend practice (aside from xc and track) and are very understanding to me.</p>
<p>Are there any neighbors- possibly elderly grandparent types or single people that might not mind you studying at their homes for a bit each evening? You could reciprocate with a few light chores or errands. You might be company for them…</p>
<p>Is there a teacher that stays late that might be willing to help, maybe the Math Team teacher, or school librarian? Would a friend be willing to help?</p>
<p>That really stinks yeah I totally understand the thing about dropping ECs. One thing that I do is play white noise on my iPod (downloaded from YouTube) when things get too noisy. It’s noise, but it helps me concentrate because it basically cancels out other noises. See if that helps.</p>
<p>I don’t think staying at school would be an option. The latest teachers stay are around 5 (about when I leave). I live in a somewhat rural area and don’t have many neighbors.</p>
<p>Could you drive somewhere closer than the library? A classmate might welcome a smart study partner…or a coach or teacher might have a quiet room they could let you study in at least an evening or two a week. To add to my comment above, might there be a neighbor that works evenings that would let you study at their home? Maybe they have a pet that could be fed and walked in exchange?</p>
<p>I’ll probably end up going outside later in the year but, as of now its been in the high 80s- low 90s (so many mosquitoes and so humid!). I live in the south east. Its also not the studying; I can do fine not studying but, I’m given graded assignments due the next class in about all my classes. I have to finish those, correctly. </p>
<p>As for going to a friends house, I can’t think of anyone that’d allow me to do that. If my girlfriend lived closer I’m sure her parents would let me come over and do my work while she is at cheer practice but, she lives a good bit away.</p>
<p>Can you try talking to your mom again and really drive home the fact that you’ll be getting scholarship money for these good grades and that you’re really worried that your grades will drop because you can’t concentrate?</p>
<p>Or you could try and barter with the kids. Offer them something nice in exchange. Tell them you’ll take them out for ice-cream or a movie on the weekend if they cut down on gaming. And offer them something fun to do while they’re not playing games.</p>
<p>You could also try and get a tent and work outside.</p>
<p>Or maybe invest in some noise canceling headphones.</p>
<p>Have you tried ear plugs? Or noise reducing/canceling headphones?</p>
<p>Could you bike to the library/park/friend’s house? Perhaps, even to a coffee shop or something similar that’s quiet enough to study?</p>
<p>Could you find a part time job on the weekends (maybe something flexible like tutoring or babysitting, or something similar), where you work enough to pay for gas to drive to the library? You also don’t have to work everyday after school. You could work one or two days during the week and have a long day, but have normal days when you don’t work.</p>
<p>It’s not an ideal situation, but you’re going to have to sacrifice something or just learn how to study with noise.</p>
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yeah I totally understand the thing about dropping ECs. One thing that I do is play white noise on my iPod (downloaded from YouTube) when things get too noisy. It’s noise, but it helps me concentrate because it basically cancels out other noises. See if that helps.</p>