Balance

One of the most important aspects I want you to keep in mind when registering for classes is the importance of BALANCE!  Yes, we want you to select courses that will be rigorous and help push you to learn and grow.  However, that needs to be balanced with what is reasonable.  

You want to challenge yourself with courses that will help prepare you for the future. At the same time you want to remember that this is high school and you need to be realistic about your expectations of yourself. There is a balance that should be sought - between too many "easy" classes and too many "hard" classes. You know yourself best and what you can handle. So while it may feel good to have every teacher recommend you for honors, AP or IB classes it doesn't mean that it would be the ideal situation to load your schedule with 7 advanced classes. You have to keep in mind the rest of your commitments - what sports, clubs, music groups, part-time jobs, and volunteer commitments do you have?  There needs to be time for you to relax and breathe, spend time with your family and friends and, perhaps most importantly, still get a good night's sleep each night.  

Once again this year the Kilbourne staff created a Time Commitment Planning Calendar.  You can find copies on the Kilbourne Counselor website - www.wkhscounselors.com - or there are hard copies available in the counseling center.  A student helped by completing a sample calendar so that you can see what a completed one looks like and that is also on the Kilbourne Counselor website.  I strongly encourage you to consider your 2 busiest weeks and fill out the calendar to see what classes would be a good balance for you - being both rigorous (particularly in any area of passion) and reasonable.

If you are struggling to find that balance, please talk to your parents about the classes you are considering and stop down to see me so that we can discuss it too.