A Day in the Life: Inside One Busy Junior’s Jam-Packed Schedule

For most students, the day slows down once school ends. For seventeen-year-old Kendall Festa, it only picks up speed! Festa’s day officially begins at 7 a.m. when she heads to school knowing she won’t step back through her front door again for at least another twelve hours. Similar to many high school students, she spends her mornings bouncing from class to class, forced to think about the rest of her day’s schedule. The final bell brings a wave of relief to most as it signals the end of a usually long, tedious, repetitive school day—but for her, it means she is a mere one-third of the way through. 

“I’m usually tired before the day even really starts,” junior Kendall Festa said. “But I kind of expect that at this point.” 

She also mentioned how, because she has so much housework and homework to get done in the little sliver of time that she has at home before bed, she usually has no choice but to stay up to get things done. Sometimes, Kendall is finally able to go to bed at a whopping 2 a.m. after she finally finishes her homework for her AP and dual enrollment classes. 

At 1:30 p.m., while many students head to grab lunch or go home, Kendall goes straight to the locker room to change into her track clothes for mandatory, daily practice. The physical demands add another layer to an already exhaustive day, but she pushes through regardless—sometimes even fighting through illness. 

“Track is definitely exhausting, but it’s a great opportunity for exercise, and it totally keeps me motivated. I really like the coach, and part of the reason why I joined was because I wanted to make new friends, which I did,” explained Festa. “If I just went home instead, I would probably just feel lazy, which I hate.”

By the time 3:30 rolls around, track practice is over, and Kendall transitions directly from school to her job. With little time to reset, she heads into her almost three-hour shift, balancing work and responsibilities after already completing a full school day and a demanding workout. 

“I know my schedule is crazy,” she admits. “It’s no doubt stressful. Sometimes it feels like I’m just running on autopilot trying to keep up with everything.” 

Kendall’s shift usually ends around 6 p.m., but don’t be fooled—her day still isn’t over. Most evenings, she spends time with her friends before finally heading home. This routine—school, track, work, friends—is how her life looks four out of the five days of the week. 

“I really don’t like being at home doing nothing,” Kendall said. “I’d take being busy with my jam-packed schedule over being bored with nothing to do.” 

Although this lifestyle was one hundred percent her choice, the constant movement comes with pressure. Kendall often feels overwhelmed and stressed out by this balancing act she has to keep up. Despite this, she continues to push herself and doesn’t fail to leave her family and peers in awe and inspired by her. 

By the time Kendall finally gets home, the day has caught up with her. Homework and preparation for the repeat of her day tomorrow typically fills up whatever time she has left before getting ready for bed. She pushes through the fatigue and has taught herself how to manage her time efficiently, and prioritize what matters most to her. Her daily routine reflects the reality of many high school students who juggle academics, athletics, work, all while maintaining a thriving social life simultaneously. While this is a super demanding cycle, it truly is a great display of her determination and drive. Even on her most exhausting days, Kendall continues to move forward. She is living proof that for some students, being busy is not just a responsibility, but rather a choice—and after you discover a healthy balance, a lifestyle like hers can be extremely rewarding.

Racing Minds//Going through the motions of every day: school, sports, clubs, etc., many students have lots on their minds throughout the day. It often is not limited to just school—it can be a mix of additional extracurriculars, work, family, friends, and more. (Photo by Audrey Hamatake)