As students of Foothill Technology High School (Foothill Tech) enter the second quarter of the school year, they begin to recognize the increase in their workload and the need to pace themselves differently compared to previous years.
Underclassmen and upperclassmen have distinct classes and workloads. From completing DeltaMath assignments on their Chromebooks to handwriting tasks, these responsibilities shape their overall high school experience. Students have a variety of duties, both inside and outside of the classroom, which limit the amount of free time they have. As the year progresses, students begin to recognize the need to balance time for schoolwork with time for their personal lives.
As a freshman, Alanna Leslie-Ochoa is new to Foothill Tech and is gradually understanding the large amounts of work that high school assigns. Although enrolled in various college preparatory (CP) courses, including art and Spanish, Leslie-Ochoa receives the most work in her Math 1 Honors and Biology classes, which contribute to her new perspective on high school in comparison to prior education.
“Compared to middle school, it’s definitely more work, and you also have more classes,” Leslie-Ochoa said.
Other freshmen may take various honors or CP classes, along with different electives; however, students may notice an increase in workload that accompanies their additional classes with the transition from middle school to high school.
Owen Kahler ‘28 acquires a large amount of his workload from his Math Two Honors and English 10 Honors classes. Along with this, his electives include Spanish One and Drama, with cross country as an extracurricular.
“There’s more work, but my time management has been the same as in freshman year … I’ve just gotten better at doing work,” Kahler said.
Many sophomores struggle when it comes to managing their time wisely. Some students have a system that has worked for them in previous years, while others continue the search to find ways to effectively organize time for both their academics and extracurriculars.
Tess Borkowsky ‘27 is a junior whose hardest classes include Advanced Placement (AP) United States History and Physiology Honors. Along with her AP and honors classes, she is also a part of the Bioscience Academy, a three-year pathway at Foothill Tech. As the year progresses, Borkowsky’s challenging classes create a heavy workload, yet it is a fair amount for a bright future.
“The jump from freshman to sophomore was the craziest, but now [I am] just starting to ease into it more,” Borkowsky said.
As juniors, many students stress about the grades they earn, which colleges pay close attention to; however, they have also understood the importance of pacing themselves. Workloads are piled high for those who challenge themselves with AP and honors classes, as well as students who are part of the career pathways Foothill Tech offers.
Aarana Khanavkar ‘26, a senior, not only attends classes at Foothill Tech but also takes dual enrollment and online AP classes. Along with that, she volunteers at the Community Memorial Hospital, plays tennis and participates in robotics.
“Don’t take too many classes your senior year … focus on college [applications] and do fun things,” Khanavkar said.
Khanavkar’s advice to have a school-life balance applies to many students. As high schoolers progress through the school year, upperclassmen may have the pressure of applying to colleges, but those words are relevant for other grades who struggle to find time for both the towering academic workload academics bring and for opportunities to cherish personal moments outside of schoolwork.
