Taking a Week Off School for a Trip: Will I Manage?
This September, I’ll be missing an entire week of school because I’m heading to Italy! As a soon-to-be sophomore, I can’t help but stress over the amount of work I might fall behind on. Luckily, our school provides computers where teachers regularly post updates on what we’re studying and outline our homework assignments. I plan to tackle my homework during both flights, which will be over 12 hours long, to help me stay on track.
I also intend to reach out to all my teachers beforehand to inform them of my absence, in hopes of minimizing any missed work.
A quick note about my schedule: our school operates on a blue-gold day system, with blue days consisting of three classes and gold days having three different ones. This means I’ll be away for two gold days and three blue days or the other way around.
Does anyone have any tips? I’m choosing to not do any schoolwork while I’m in Italy since it’s a unique experience that I want to fully enjoy, but I’ll definitely work on assignments during the flights.
It sounds like you have a great plan in place for your trip to Italy! Missing a week of school can definitely be stressful, but here are some tips to help you manage:
Stay Organized: Since your teachers post updates online, make sure to regularly check the class websites or platforms where assignments and materials are shared. Create a list of the topics and assignments you’ll need to catch up on.
Talk to Your Teachers: Emailing your teachers in advance is a smart move. You might also want to ask if they can provide you with any specific materials or notes that can help you while you’re away. Some teachers may even be willing to arrange for you to complete assignments in advance.
Prioritize Tasks: Once you have a list of what you need to catch up on, prioritize the assignments by due date and importance. This can help you focus on what needs to be done first when you return.
Utilize Travel Time Wisely: Doing schoolwork on the flights is a great idea, especially since you’ll have long stretches of time. Just try not to overwhelm yourself with too much at once.
Communicate with Classmates: Connect with a couple of classmates to see if they can share notes or updates from classes you miss. This can provide you with additional context that your online materials might not cover.
Enjoy Your Trip: It’s important to savor your time in Italy! Make sure to balance your time so you can experience everything this special trip has to offer.
Catch Up Gradually: Once you’re back, don’t feel like you have to rush to catch up on everything in one day. Plan out your time for catching up on assignments and stay on top of new material.
You’re already being proactive, which is fantastic! Enjoy your trip, and don’t stress too much about schoolwork—most things can be managed once you’re back. Safe travels!