After the final bell rings, teens are left with several hours before heading home. Many ponder on what to do in between that time, and they often opt for joining an after-school activity, which varies widely depending on personal interests and priorities.
Some students stay engaged in school-related activities, many teens participate in clubs where they can explore their hobbies and passions and others head to the gym for physical activity, whether it’s for fun or to participate in a PSAL sport. After-school time can also be an opportunity to catch up on missed assignments or get help from teachers.
For others, the after-school hours are spent outside of school. Some teenagers go straight home to unwind, hang out with friends or work to earn extra money. It’s a time to balance leisure and responsibility, with various choices that depend on personal preferences and family circumstances.
At Baruch High School, students spend their time in different ways. Some prioritize school work, while others balance it with jobs or sports. Here’s a closer look at how some students make the most of their after-school hours.
Melanie Maliza, a freshman in Baruch, for example, has a structured after-school routine. “After school, I go home, do my homework, do chores, and on other days I go to school clubs,” she said.
Maliza finds school assignments particularly time-consuming, especially projects and essays. “If I have a choice, I would do less homework, especially big assignments, because they take up so much time,” she said.
Despite this, she prefers to finish her work rather than spending time with family and friends.
Senior Teressa Feng takes a different approach to her after-school hours. She enjoys spending time outdoors and playing sports with her friends. “After school, I usually go to the park with my friends to play basketball, badminton, volleyball or bike by the river,” said Feng.
However, when homework piles up, she switches gears. “If I have a lot of homework, I go home and finish it, then I’ll play video games or practice guitar, sometimes doing everything in one night,” she said.
Some teens, like Freshman Luna Yin, balance their academic and social lives with the need to work. “I arrive home at four pm, take a nap until six pm, and then go to work from seven pm to midnight,” said Yin. For many teens, especially those who live far from school or need extra income, working after school
becomes aregular part loop of their routine. “I do it because I don’t get much money from my parents,” Yin said, highlighting the financial independence that some teens seek.
While teenagers have many ways to spend their after-school time, whether it’s school clubs, sports, working or simply relaxing at home, it’s clear that each student makes choices based on their priorities. Whether it’s academic achievement, physical activity or financial independence, the after-school hours are an important time for teens to grow, learn and find balance.
