6 a.m. Wake up, drink some coffee, feed the dog. 6:30 a.m. Leave the house, get in the car, blast Frank Ocean’s new album, and drive to school. 2:20 p,m. Go to any after-school club meetings where your attendance is important, rush to the car, drive home. Everything in life as a high school student seems like a broken record. Having to balance homework, studying, extra-curricular activities, community service, writing a weekly article and ACT Prep is very difficult, but manageable. I may (barely) be able to juggle many things on a daily basis, but there seems to be one, very important, concept that I sometimes catch myself leaving out from my everyday routine.

Family is a very fundamental aspect of everybody’s life. Blood-related or not, everyone who lives and breathes feels the inevitable connection between themselves and their deemed family members. Having this type of bond with other individuals is something you just cannot take for granted, yet sometimes, family just isn’t what comes first.

When I was little, every Sunday was family day. This, of course, was years before I was bombarded with assignments and responsibilities that I inconveniently always save Sundays to take care of it all. While cramming my workload into just a few hours, I think about how my grades on these assignments can affect me in the future. Within the short term effects, of course you want the A on your AP Lang essay, but the question is, “will this actually have any effect on me in the long run?” The answer, I’m afraid, is no. No grade on an assignment, for the semester, or even in a class defines your future and capabilities to succeed. Although, what does have an impact on you when regarding long term effect, is family. They are the only people in the world who will love and support you no matter what. Your report card may take the beating from flunking one important exam during the quarter; however, your family, although they may be a little disappointed in you for a few hours, will still be proud of you regardless.

Sticking by your family and making time for them should be of top priority, and everybody should make room in their daily routines for family time if they haven’t already. Make everyday “family day”, so you can still save Sundays for homework. Ten years from now, a grade in a math class won’t matter, but your family will indefinitely stick around.