School, homework, softball, job, sleep. Repeat, repeat, repeat.

Since last year, Leena Wilson balances working at Edwin’s Coffee and Tea with her demanding softball schedule.

“It can be difficult and it can suck at times, but it’s manageable,” Wilson said.

Wilson works weekdays at Edwin’s for two hour shifts, and plays at least two hours a day of softball practice. She, as well as other working athletes, depends on their boss being understanding in order to keep their job.

“If my boss wasn’t as flexible I’d probably be fired,” Wilson said.

Soccer player and Jamba Juice employee Alexsys Jones finds that the most difficult part of being an employed athlete is juggling all her priorities.

“The hardest thing is just trying to manage my time and keep my grades up and not impressing everybody but just making sure everybody is satisfied and making sure that I can do everything to the best of my ability,” Jones said.

Along with soccer and working at Jamba Juice, Jones also is involved in leadership.

“If it’s a leadership event like the Black and White Affair, I have to get my shift covered. They’re super understanding at Jamba Juice because they have a bunch of high schoolers and college kids so they put more people on the list of employees so it’s easier to get your shift covered,” Jones said.

One thing that Cheerleader Zach Roberts feels is very important is managing his time. His schedule includes cheer leading, the school musical and working at Studio Movie Grill.

“Maintaining a schedule is so important. There’s a lot of leaving early from one thing so I wouldn’t be late for another,” Roberts said.

Stress is also another factor that can arise from students with a heavy schedule.

“Sometimes it can be difficult, especially if I have tests or something that week and I have to study. School is obviously a priority and it comes first so if there is a conflict, like a soccer event, a leadership event and work all in one day it can get pretty stressful,” Jones said.

As spare time can come few and far in between for students like Wilson and Jones, deciding how to spend their limited free time is an important decision.

“I don’t usually have a lot of spare time, I’m usually pretty busy all the time. When I do have spare time I usually hang out with friends and family and try and take advantage of that time as much as I can,” Jones said.

For Toby Martinez, the hardest part about balancing her schedule is making time for things other than soccer and work.

Martinez said, “I have enough free time, definitely not as much as I used to have, but you get used to it and you just have to try and make time for friends and family as best as you can.”

by ABI BROOKS