For many Upper School students, their day doesn’t end at 3 p.m.

While some go straight home to relax or dive into homework, others rush to jobs, sports practices, or extracurricular activities, all while trying to stay on top of their studies. Balancing it all can be overwhelming.

“I use my time in school the best I can so I have time to do sports and other activities,” said freshman Ellie Lottes.

Without developing good time management skills, the pressure of school and work can lead to high levels of stress, anxiety and even burnout. Some students may find themselves forced to give up a job or sacrifice their academic performance if they can’t maintain that balance.

“It depends on the student,” said Debbie Ippolito. “Some take on too much, and it becomes difficult. Maybe they like a lot of activities, which leads them to struggle to manage things. On the other hand, some students know their limits and can manage the workload because they know themselves.”

When students are stretched too thin, they often sacrifice things that support their mental and physical well-being—like sleep, time with friends, or healthy habits. This can lead to poor decision-making, unhealthy routines, and a general decline in motivation and focus.

“Stress can challenge students mentally and they can’t focus or do well on assignments,” said freshman Valentina Feitosa-Caramelo.

However, working during the school year isn’t all bad. For many students, a job can offer valuable life experience, help them develop responsibility and provide financial support for expenses. 

“I’m pretty efficient with my time, because I row and choose not to take harder classes, because I know I’ll be able to balance them with my rowing everyday,” said Reagan Andreen.

In the end, having a job while in school comes with both challenges and rewards. Whether or not a student chooses to work, the key is knowing their own limits, making intentional choices  and learning to manage time effectively.