Students at Arlington high school spend 7 ½ hours at school five days a week. This leaves evenings and weekends free for students. With different interests and varying personalities at Arlington High school students use their free time differently.
“When I have some free time, I text my friends and I do some homework,” said Graci Garcia Carmona, a freshman attending Arlington high school.
Schoolwook often carries over to students’ free time, with homework from multiple consuming significant hours. Though it may not always be the preferred activity, it’s a necessary commitment.
“Sometimes I’m doing homework, depends what my teachers give me or not…I should be studying more.” said Nicholas Mathison, a sophomore at Arlington High School.
Technology has become a huge part of students’ lives, with many spending considerable free time and their phones. Maintaining a balance between screen time and reality is crucial to optimizing their time out of school.
“ I think a lot of kids have a big problem with, like, being addicted to their phones. And I feel like that’s becoming more unavoidable, but I, yeah, I think my phone plays a big part in my life.” said Sophia Standlman, a Sophomore at Arlington High School.
However Technology can’t always be a bad thing, it gives students an opportunity to communicate with friends outside of school. This can bring students together during their free time to create deeper bonds and friendships.
“Technology is a really big big part of my life because I get to communicate with others more, and I get involved more that way.” said Carmona (9).
Around 50% of students participate in sports. Sports can be before and after school, sometimes even on the weekends.Sports are demanding on students, there is a lot of pressure to do good. Any student will pour hours of their lives to be the best they can be in their sport.
“ I’m a big sports guy, so I usually do train for basketball during my free time. “ said Mathison (10)
Many students don’t have their free time all to themselves. They have other people that they must take care of, with priorities higher than theirs. Students know that it’s the right thing to do and it must be done.
“ I go pick up my baby sister from daycare, and then I just stay with her and I make her sleep,” said Carmona (9).`
With Sports and schoolwork students are pretty occupied. Some may even feel like they’re missing out on certain things. It can’t always be easy when choosing what activities take up your time, but it is a decision that many students have to make.
“If I had the time I’d like to learn another language” said Mathison (10)
Students spend their free time differently, whether it’s practicing for sports, doing homework, or just scrolling through their phone. Most students find that it’s important to have a balance between activities to enjoy their free time.
“ I feel like you can do much more during your time off, you just can’t do anything in school because all you do in school is work. “ said Carmona (9)
