Photo Courtesy of junior Mia Clifford 

  With the prospect of college in the near future and the SAT just around the corner, San Luis Obispo High School juniors are gearing up for a challenging academic year. 

  While keeping their grades up is a top priority, juniors Reisen Carlberg and Abby Southern remark on their abilities to play sports during these times. 

  “I run cross country, track, and am a guard in basketball,” says Southern. 

  Southern has been involved in sports during her years at SLOHS and intends on pursuing them further. 

  “I play defense for the SLOHS varsity soccer team,” said Carlberg. 

  Both students are invaluable members of both their sports teams and our school community. They are enrolled in AP classes that prompt critical thinking and require mental and time investments in the subject. 

  “I’d have to say my hardest class is AP Calculus because there are a whole bunch of concepts you have to learn and sometimes it’s hard to grasp it all,” said Carlberg. 

  Advanced Placement classes provide great challenges for athletes, but are no match for Southern and Carlberg. 

  “My hardest class is definitely AP Chemistry with Mr. Richie. There is a lot of work,” said Southern. 

 Many SLOHS sports teams practice nearly every day, providing few rest days for students to focus on schoolwork.

  “We practice every day and usually end around 4:30. Even if it rains, we practice in the gym and get some futsal in, which is a lot of fun” said Carlberg. 

  The soccer team finds ways to practice even when the weather doesn’t cooperate. It is evident that these juniors enjoy their sports and aren’t interested in putting them on pause with the SAT approaching.

  “I’m taking the SAT. I’m planning on studying a lot for it, but I am still going to keep up with sports,” said Southern.

  Prioritizing both sports and academics is an impressive and difficult task, but a choice that athletes must make. Choosing one or another isn’t an option for these dedicated athletes. 

  “I usually end up going to bed around midnight on school days,” said Southern. 

  Coming home from practice or games and having homework to do creates a damper in the athletes sleep schedules. Making sacrifices to maintain their grades and stay on the team is not unfamiliar to them.

  These students have discovered different tactics that help them balance their two lives.

  “When we go to games I have to do my homework on the bus. Otherwise it would pile up,” said Southern. 

  Finding study habits that promote effective learning is different for everyone. Taking advantage of her time is something Southern utilizes to stay on top of her schoolwork.

  “With balancing sports and school, time management is really crucial. I definitely still struggle with that,” said Carlberg. 

  Time management skills and dedication are qualities these SLOHS juniors possess that allow them to pursue athletics and academics simultaneously.