Posted inEducation

Mastering the Game On and Off the Field

Daniela M. by Daniela M.

Joel Carrasco is no stranger to the requirements being a student-athlete comes with. Carrasco prioritizes his commitment into his true passions even with a busy schedule including school, work, and soccer. 
His way of managing himself emphasizes perfectly the importance of prioritization and time management.
“Every morning, I wake up, get ready for school, then I go to practice, and after practice, I go to work,” he shared. “After that, I get home, start doing my homework, shower, and then go to sleep.” 
His ability to follow a structured cycle weekly shows his dedication to both athletics and academics. 
Carrasco ensures he prioritizes education despite his busy schedule. While soccer is his hobby, he’s sure of what will benefit him the most in the long run. 
“I always put my education first before anything,” he stated. 
His academic motivation comes by maintaining a strong academic record, while his athletic drive reaches the desire for improvement.
“What motivates me to excel in my academics is to maintain a high profile in my scholar record, and then for sports, it is just to be better,” he said. 
To be successful he believes time management is a crucial skill for a student-athlete to be successful. 
“What makes a student-athlete successful is that they learn how to develop and manage their responsibilities and their time,” he states.
The most rewarding part of being a student-athlete for Carrasco goes beyond the sport. 
“Everything that it helps you learn, how to balance everything, the experiences you gain along the way, and who you get to share it with, is the best part,” he shares.
With many responsibilities, maintaining focus is crucial. Carrasco handles this by addressing one task at a time. 
“I stay focused by starting to separate my specific responsibilities, prioritizing what I need to do at one time and then another time,” he explained.
Even on overwhelming days, he comes through by using a simple but effective strategy.
“I try to relax and not think too much about everything.”. 
Carrasco shows his dedication to sustaining a balance between two different worlds. His story is one of discipline and determination, serving as an inspiration for other individuals aiming to succeed in classrooms and on the field. 

Posted inEducation

Jose Villarreal’s Journey of Growth Through FBLA and Poetry UIL

Krystal O. by Krystal O.

Jose Villarreal is a sophomore who is currently in FBLA (Future Business Leaders of America) and Poetry UIL.
“What mostly made me get involved in these activities is mostly my friends. They encouraged me to be more outgoing and less nervous when it came to public speaking,” Villareal said.
The main challenge he has faced with these extracurriculars is social anxiety.
“I’d say I’m very timid, so I easily get nervous or even scared when presenting in front of people. But I’ve gotten better with practice,” Villarreal said.
In FBLA, he has gained skills like leadership, money management, and time management.
As for poetry, Villarreal gets out of his comfort zone, lowering any social anxiety he might have in specific scenarios.
“While it is difficult to keep up with my extracurricular activities, my teachers make it so much easier by being lenient with work,” Villareal said. “I also have to sacrifice a lot of my free time to catch up on work I may have missed.”
The person who motivates Villareal is both his FBLA and poetry sponsor Jennifer Garza. She has made him more confident in himself and has generally improved Villareal as a student and person.
“I personally believe that it will be worth it in the end. Not only do I get to experience a journey with FBLA, but I also improve my social skills, a skill that will be essential in my education,” Villarreal said.
While his career might not involve a lot of public speaking, it will definitely have a lot of interactions with other people. He believes that by the time he graduates, he won’t be the same timid freshman he once was.