(School of Thought logo by Kinsley Moncman, Parkersburg South High School)

STUDENT INTRO: Parkersburg South High School senior Olivia Raber brings us this week’s piece that allows a glimpse into her active life and how she balances it. When not focused on schoolwork, Olivia works three jobs and spends the rest of her free time volunteering at various school and local organizations.

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Deadlines.

We all have them, and we all hate them. Unfortunately, senior year, and life, are full of deadlines. Scholarships, college applications, payments, the deadlines are soon approaching. One thing I have always struggled with is staying on top of deadlines when it comes to schoolwork, and naturally, that’s translated into other aspects of my life. Well, that was until I found ways around the multitude of deadlines I faced.

Recently, keeping a detailed to-do list has allowed me to succeed in many different aspects of my life. I personally keep this list in the note’s app on my iPhone, but I have seen people use the reminders app or keep physical lists that work just as well. On this list, I try to allow different sections for my personal and school needs, along with other miscellaneous tasks. Every time I encounter a task I need to complete, it immediately goes on the list, to be completed later, ensuring that I do not forget about it.

With a schedule full of difficult classes, the assignments can pile up quickly. These assignments all have varying due dates, which at times forces me to prioritize different tasks, although I work diligently. Along with keeping up with my course schedule, working multiple jobs can cause an onslaught of projects. The recent addition of a job has caused an imbalance of keeping things straight. This to-do list has allowed for a clear and concise list of objectives across all aspects of my life.

A physical planner can be incredibly efficient in tracking scholarship and college application deadlines. I found separating the to-do list and application deadlines to be most effective for me. Before school started, I already had an idea of what colleges I wanted to apply to along with a working document of possible scholarship opportunities. This allowed me to add the deadlines to my planner in August. I frequently check my planner to ensure I do not miss any, along with allowing ample time to complete each application. The use of differing methods of tracking has allowed me to better stay atop of the endless list of tasks.

Starting these habits while still in high school will set even the worst procrastinator up for success later in life. As many people know, the transition from high school to college can prove challenging for any student, including those who seem to be most prepared. To help combat this change, being as prepared as possible is a necessity. Setting up these healthy habits as a teenager will prove exceptionally helpful later in all aspects of your life.

Choosing which college to attend, or even if college is the best path for you — the senior year deadlines prove pivotal in your life. Finding a way to offset the costs and completing the steps to obtain them play another massive part, within that. If you do not learn how to handle the impending deadlines, you will set yourself up for failure in all your future endeavors. It is best to learn the method that best works for you earlier in life, preferably before your senior year.

While I might have painted senior year out to be stressful, it’s also important to enjoy it while it lasts. A message to anyone looking to be better organized: Step out and try new things, and while you’re at it, you might as well try to develop a way to maintain deadlines and prepare for your future.

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EDITOR’S NOTE: Parkersburg South High School senior Olivia Raber is also the News and Sentinel’s Teen of the Week.