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Being a student leader does anyone have one of those days where you think you're just not going to make it? When school starts juggling homework, clubs, and band seems like Mount Everest. Many people have quit because they think they're going to be too "busy." I'm personally gonna be as busy as them so i try to push myself and take the risk for the experience. All those quitters...i look down on them, complaining about homework when i barely started homework when rehearsal is about to start.

wow, i think this is a very worthwhile subject.

Every day I wake up I feel overwhelmed to the point of just wanting to stay in bed all day. Being DM, involved in 3 ensembles (wind, chamber, and orchestra), and a student with all kinds of homework is a strenuous work out for my patience and sanity. But, in case any of you all ever feel like that there are a few things I do to help me overcome those overwhelming feelings, get the job(s) done, and come out better because of it.

1) Scheduling. okay, it sounds simple. but really. Just setting a Very SPECIFIC schedule of practice/homework/rehearsal/whatever else times for each day (and sticking to it!) can be a nice track of consistency when everything other thing seems chaotic. Going over in your mind what exactly you have to do for that day before you start it is also a good way to prepare yourself for what's coming, on a daily basis, of course.

2) "back to basics." okay, I'm making that term up. What I mean by it is trying to remember why I'm doing all of this. Sometimes I get so caught up in all the details of every activity that I forget what made me want to do it in the first place, what makes it make me feel good. When I remember I find more energy and enthusiasm that I need to make it through.

3) day by day. I find it helpful to think about only on thing at a time while I'm engaged with it, otherwise I get overwhelmed and cant do anything at all, which makes me fall behind, which just adds more stress.

4) Rewards. Sometimes being a leader means you don't get those nice little pats on the back from people you looked forward to when you were a newbie. That doesn't mean you don't still deserve them. When I do something well, or if at the end of a month or whatever I accomplish everythign I needed to I stop for a day, or however much time I can squeeze in (:, and do something to reward myself. For me that usually means eating ice cream!

Hope some of that's helpful. Don't pull out too many hairs this marching season.

(:

well yeah.. i dont think i have been in that situation.. but kinda.. like drum major practice.. and project that's like half your semester grade is due the next day and i haven't even started it so after practice i get lazy.. and do it late at night.. it's liek OMG.. an dthen orchestra stuff.. oi.. it's a pain. but to me i usualy give up on school before band/ orch. band and orch is th enumber 1 priority in my schedule.. it's sad but it' strue.. but o well. i still end up balancing it

same here, band for me is #1 priority. everyone keeps telling me to quit because of all the time it takes up, but that motivates me even more to finish my tasks on-time or earlier.

Well, I have yet to go through a year as a student leader...and I'm taking 4 APs next year....as well as doing several clubs (like Academic Decathlon). Hope I don't burn out. Haven't had as much pressure last year (left everything until the least minute, though I've mastered the art of do-an-A-project-in-15-minutes and ace-a-test-without-ever-studying)

even though this is off the topic.. but you dont have to take soo many ap classes.. really.. one is enough.. dont burn yourself out on AP stuff.. it's not that important. as long as your grades are good and that you';r einvolved in other stuff. colleges dont care about AP stuff.. i fogot but my teacher once said that There are a lot of colleges that dont even look at it.. so why burn yourself out?

I remember freshman year, after band camp, I promised myself I would be in band 4 years and dedicate myself to it like no other.

That year, my best friend quit band at the end of the year because of hw load. Although she was still in concert band... it was way different.

At the end of my sophomore year, another 2 of my reallly really good friends quit too.

Jr year, I was the only one in my close group of friends left.
I seized the opportunity, and attempted to make myself better while helping my section more than ever

it was great. This year two of my friends are rejoining band ... I'm so excited.

My advice to everyone... work hard and dont procrastinate

caving under the pressure isn't worth it -- its always possible to do band and school work

good luck next year everyone!

AzhlackDMPiccolo wrote:even though this is off the topic.. but you dont have to take soo many ap classes.. really.. one is enough.. dont burn yourself out on AP stuff.. it's not that important. as long as your grades are good and that you';r einvolved in other stuff. colleges dont care about AP stuff.. i fogot but my teacher once said that There are a lot of colleges that dont even look at it.. so why burn yourself out?

It's not necessarily that people always take APs for college purposes. Some people are at a higher level in some courses than others and regular non-AP classes may be too boring for them. Just like there's some people who need special classes when they are below the average, there are some who need the challenge of a harder class because they're above the average.

cosmicirony7 wrote: Some people are at a higher level in some courses than others and regular non-AP classes may be too boring for them. Just like there's some people who need special classes when they are below the average, there are some who need the challenge of a harder class because they're above the average.

Amen. That's the very reason I'm taking AP classes at all. If AP classes weren't challenging I wouldn't be taking them.

no matter what AP classes will be the most challenging don't know about IB classes though.

bandsmack wrote:no matter what AP classes will be the most challenging don't know about IB classes though.

IB is harder than AP.

Well, As for me, last year was when AP classes were first available and it was our schools first field season.... so great!

Band was awesome, I live for it, but I HATE AP classes. I'm only taking one next year....

true... this year im gonna have a wake up call! yep, sophmore year i shut off my book smart all because of band, but i still got good grades. this year im signed up for 2 AP courses and one of them is history, which i havent had in a year. the other is bio, crap, im died. then i have band and im in band council and these 2 things take about 70% of my life. then im also tryin to get my license and a job, so this year will be fun but stressful. whatever ill still have band. hahhaa

yeah. i have the same problem this year. i signed up for 4 ap courses, yearbook, AND band. i hope i'll get through this year all in one piece. i always think "oh god... what have i gotten myself into..." =\ my parents have always told me to quit band, but it's what i love. my counselors told me that there should always be a class where you can enjoy yourself and have fun. and for me, that class is band. =] but i hope rehearsals won't get in the way of my schoolwork. =\ wish me luck this year...

i was going to sign up for yearbook, actually i did sign up then at the last minute i bailed when i learned yearbook was the same period as jazz band, so of course band is the priority