By Kathryn Burke, Staff Writer.
Noemi Martinez, senior at Poly, is a very active bear; participating in multiple clubs, hard academic classes, sports, and extracurricular activities. While navigating her time at Poly, she has accomplished being a scholar and participating in community-building activities.
Noemi stays involved in high school and her environment by being in the Political debate club, Poly Spotlight, and taking AP classes. By putting herself “out there, and doing the best that [she] can”, Noemi discovered that it is a great path to receiving “the best outcomes”.
Noemi shared that her experience in joining clubs like political debate and getting involved in the community is great for college and creates more opportunities, allowing for new connections and memories to be made. Focusing on other things besides academics can broaden your perspective and teach you about balance. Noemi encourages others to be involved in activities to allow themselves to go through important experiences.
Learning this through her time at Poly, she wishes she had discovered this before entering high school, because she felt “all over the place” for her first two years at Poly. As a senior who has had to maintain academic achievements while still having a social life, Noemi wishes that underclassmen would not “overwhelm” themselves. Although it’s important to stay involved, Noemi reflects on the fact that being aware of what you can handle and take on is always better than burning out. It is necessary to “pace yourself and manage your time really well” as a student, especially one who is well-rounded.
Noemi also adds that it is much more important to have stable mental health and be a student in fewer clubs, extracurricular activities, with simpler courses, than be an overworked student struggling to get by, who’s sleep-deprived. Underclassmen tend to be harder on themselves when it comes to having a harder schedule, so knowing of resources that are available is very important.
Due to Noemi’s very active schedule, she is finding ways that worked for her to focus on home/work balance, and ways to “regulate time better.” She realizes the importance of self care, both physically and mentally, and she asserts that she plans on “dedicating time” for herself, especially in the second semester.
Noemi will continue to stay involved, using these habits to remain healthy, throughout her senior year, and will keep you abreast of “life at Poly” in future editions of the Poly Spotlight.