Balancing Academics and Activism

Student Testimonials

“For students like us, school and organizing are some of the reasons why we wake up in the morning. Here are some tips on how I managed to balance the two: start small. Don't procrastinate. Remind yourself why you're doing the work you're doing. Write down affirmations on a piece of paper and return to them when times get tough. Reach out to folks and don't be scared to ask for help!”

Brenda S. Pantoja

“For me it was a challenge trying to balance the only two lives I have which are the academic and activist life. In order to get my academics done before my activist events, I would set my own mini deadlines on when to finish assignments. It's harder than it sounds but if you learn to manage your time wisely and prioritize things in the back of your mind you'll have no problem. Although some people do recommend using a planner, I personally feel better without one cause once you see all these deadlines and assignments written down, it may be super overwhelming to deal with.”

Salma Vizcaya

“It's definitely not easy balancing school and activism, but it is rewarding. It's hard when you want to do two different things 100% when at first it feels like you can only do each thing 50%. However, when you manage to find a balance they can boost each other. There have been times when I find myself not wanting to come to campus for class, but activism goals bring me back to De Anza and I end up going to class. Also, being able to manage to maintain or improve my GPA while community organizing can bring a feeling of academic confidence and pride that helps keep me motivated.

Plan your activism and school schedules early so you can make adjustments to make life easier. This quarter I selected a later class time and its nice knowing I have the gap twice a week free to work on activism and meet with volunteers. I suggest that you plan your activism work to fit into gaps in your academic schedule. If you have a late class and a large gap, use the time to get things you want to do done. If you won't be able to choose when you meet as a group or work on your projects, then get that scheduling done early so you have a chance of changing your school schedule.

It's OK to say you can't miss a class if someone asks you to. It's OK to prioritize school if you need to put more in or work on your grade. Consider priorities and set goals for school and for your organizing work so you know if you are doing what you need and when you need to do it.

Make time for yourself too. It's easy to forget you need to be in the right headspace to feel satisfied with your efforts with school and activism.”

Ben Wergin

“Balancing my academics with activism has always been a challenge! First and foremost, I have learned not to overwork myself under any situation and to always prioritize my health and well being. I always make sure to eat at the right times and try my best to get an adequate amount of sleep every night. Regarding my schoolwork, I try to take upon a course load that is balanced. For example, one math course, one social science course, one GE, etc I always kept in touch with my degree works to continuously check up on my own progress. This helped me be updated and not very stressed out academically, so I could focus on social work and civic engagement as well. I made sure to deal with VIDA work through a separate email and only at the designated times. Sometimes, it would overlap with my person life, but I didn't mind. However, if I got incredibly exhausted, then I would take some time off from activism and even academics just to hangout with my friends (:”

Keerthana Muthukrishnan

“For academics, study with people you meet in classes, not people you meet in your social justice circle. Make friends who leave campus early so you'll do the same. Schedule serious study time before the day ends, work on everything a little each day, and block social media as much as you can. It helps me to write down important deadlines and map out my workload in my planner so that I can anticipate my most important exams and assignments. It's best to love everyone you work with and treat them as a community of friends so that you like doing activist work.”

Sara Elzeiny

“I have been involved in the community since high school and learned to manage time and prioritize. In college, it all changed because I started getting into the whole social justice issues, which did affect my GPA. I am too passionate about it and did not prioritize my academics. I gained so many leadership skills, experiences and unforgettable memories. We never stop learning ! Even when we think everything is under control life may throw rocks at us, therefore, we need to be ready to remain strong in all aspects. It is hard but manageable. As students  we may be too passionate but we cannot forget about our academics, which is important to stay organize. For example, without my calendar I am lost.  Keeping track of all activities as well as assignments is the goal to succeed as organizers and students.”

Itzel Sanchez