Redominatelife

How I Learned Balance in High School

Balance. It’s one of those words adults used to throw around in high school like it was a class we all missed. Back then, I thought balance meant being able to carry a heavy backpack and still make it to class on time without tipping over. But as the years passed, I started to understand that balance wasn’t about how much I could carry—it was about knowing what not to carry.

High school, for me, was a tightrope walk between expectations and identity. There were academics on one side, social life on the other, and somewhere in the middle, a growing sense of self trying to stay upright.

At first, I leaned hard into what I thought mattered most—grades. I’d bury myself in books, trying to be the best student, hoping it would open doors. But somewhere along the line, I realized I was closing others. I missed out on friendships, laughs in the hallways, spontaneous games after school, and those moments that don’t make your résumé but build your memory bank.

Then came the opposite extreme: I let loose. I socialized like it was an extracurricular activity, and suddenly, my grades looked like they needed life support. That’s when I learned the first lesson of balance—it’s not about equal time, it’s about intentional time.

I began to listen to myself more. I figured out when I was most productive and used that time to study. I carved out space to be with friends without guilt. I joined clubs that sparked my interests instead of just padding my college and University applications.

Learning balance in high school wasn’t about mastering time management apps or color-coded planners (though those helped). It was about learning when to say yes, when to say no, and when to just be still. It was learning that rest wasn’t laziness, and hustle without heart leads to burnout.

Looking back now, I’m grateful for those years because they taught me that balance isn’t a destination—it’s a rhythm. One I still adjust daily. But high school gave me the beat.

Until next time …