On Oct.10, 2024, while all the juniors encountered the challenges of taking the PSAT, students in other grades experienced a late start schedule for their day. Thanks to the half-day schedule, students, especially seniors, could spend their time and energy on personal development, college application or simply taking a break from the tedious school routine.
Lilly Eggleston, a CHS senior, started her morning by completing her college application. Despite the late start, she prioritizes the applications over other activities like going to the gym or catching up on sleep. For Eggleston, finishing her supplemental essay for the University of Michigan was the goal of the day.
“I want to put all the energy I can into getting into a college,” Eggleston said. “I value school, and I value my education. At this moment in time, I need to prioritize that. Anything else can follow after.”
After school, Eggleston still wants to maintain a balance between work and social life. Her top priorities included finishing her college application, securing financial aid and spending time with her friends.
Lincoln Cooke, a senior, took advantage of the late start to focus on his physical health. As a senior, he wants to prioritize maintaining a balance between good health and academic responsibilities. Cooke appreciated the extra sleep and workout that the late start day allowed. In the meantime, Cooke decided to use the rest of his day to focus on his coursework.
“I think one thing that motivates me in the morning is personal drive,” Cooke said. “It is something that helps me to get ready for my day.”
Benjamin Mendez, a senior, used the late day as a chance to rest. Mendez slept in until 10:30 instead of his usual waking time of 8 a.m. Mendez values sleep, believing that sleeping in helps him counter the stress at school.
“I think it would be great if everyone could do that,” Mendez said. “It helped me feel more rested and perform better academically.”
As a senior, Mendez’s priorities include college applications, excelling in extracurricular activities like mock trial and maintaining good grades.
The late start on Oct. 10 provided seniors with an opportunity to recharge and focus on their individual goals. As they move forward, balancing personal development and academic responsibility could be more demanding in the final year of high school.
“I want to get good grades,” Mendez said. “At the same time, I also want to have a life outside of school for my senior year.”
