Senior Michael Dalton spends his weeks balancing school and responsibilities such as work, planning for his future, and graduation. Like many of Mike’s peers, this time of year is very busy. Seniors need to balance difficult classes, work and preparing for their futures.

For Mike, one of his big moments this week came from one of his most difficult classes. “I had a huge test in my AP Microeconomics class with my teacher Ms. Simhan. I’ll just say that went very… interesting” he said. Advanced Placement courses, like microeconomics, are often difficult courses for seniors, especially as they round the corner towards the end of the school year.

Along with focusing on academics, Michael recently reached a huge milestone in his senior year. “I heard back from all of the colleges that I apply to, and I plan on attending UCF”, he said. After the long and pain-staking process of applying to schools and waiting for decisions, this recent resolve is a huge weight off of Mike’s shoulders.

Outside of school, Michael also balancing his job, where he works at Target. This, of course, adds another responsibility to Mike’s weekly duties. “I am currently working at Target, and I have to fit it into my busy schedule by setting aside specific times after my classes to focus on it while balancing my other responsibilities”, Mike explained. Keeping up with the tasks of both school and work means serious time-management skills, which is something many seniors must learn as they prepare for their futures.

With so much going on, Michael has also found a way to keep himself from getting overwhelmed. “To manage all my stress I just set aside a day to myself every week to just do whatever it is that I have been wanting to do, and I enjoy that day”, Mike described. All in all, by giving himself time to relax and unwind, Mike can stay focused and hard at work during his senior year.