By Matt Miller and Ethan Walshe

Students at Westford Academy dedicate their time to a myriad of activities, such as sports, clubs, employment, involvement in their community and other endeavors. With this many options, students often put their time into several areas, and balancing this all with schoolwork can prove to be a challenge, although some find it to be no trouble at all.

In school, it is important to have a balance of both academics and extra-curricular activities. Some manage to maintain that balance gracefully, and some choose to focus on their academics more than other activities. Then there are some who choose to become involved with a lot of clubs and activities, and others who choose to keep their schedules open.

Students such as senior Richa Kaul are very involved in extra-curricular activities both within the WA community and outside of it. As senior class president, a main officer for DECA, and a captain for the track team, she certainly fills her time. Academics are also important to her.

“I don’t really manage to balance academics and activities, everything just kind of falls into place” said Kaul, a mentality that is likely shared by many students.

Other students decide to focus on one or two specific activities and devote their full time and effort to them. Sophomore Spencer West is active in the track community and that is the main non-academic endeavor in which he puts his time. According to West, he is quite diligent at this.

“I try to get [his homework] done right when I get home, and I am pretty effective at it” said West.

This style of seeing to schoolwork is one that is not unfamiliar to much of Westford Academy’s student body.

Time management is an pertinent skill to have for anyone, but it is something that high school students in particular are learning to use more effectively. Dean Bob Ware said that in addition to this skill, organization is also key.

“It’s really a great tool for kids to figure out how to prioritize their lives, juggle their work obligations, their school obligations, their life obligations, their financial obligations and really learn how to manage their time” said Ware.

Sophomore class president David Ran echoed this sentiment.

“It’s all about time management” said Ran.

Guidance counselors like Mark Lucey support the idea of students participating in extra-curricular activities. He believes that is important to the well-rounded individual to have activities outside of schoolwork in which they are involved.

“It isn’t about building a résumé and being the president of this and the volunteer for that, it’s about finding a few things where you can put a lot of your energy and creativity” said Lucey.

The balance between academics and extra-curriculars is essential to maintain a successful career at Westford Academy.