How do you manage homework and robotics?

[Steve Howland]

It's tough, I'm not gonna lie. I generally lose a lot of sleep during the build season to try and keep my grades up. Sometimes it comes down to choosing one or the other, team vs. school. I simply try to do homework whenever I have spare time. If I can get something done between classes or early in the morning, I use it to my benefit.

Also utilize the weekends, or whenever your team takes a day off, to your advantage. Read a few chapters ahead, do the lab report, and ask your teacher what's coming up next week. If you don't have a day or two off to stay caught up in schoolwork and you feel your grades slipping, try to request a night off from robotics to catch up.

Remember your priorities and the necessary things you have to do in life (i.e. school) but also know that FIRST may ultimately be just as important, or perhaps more so, in the long run. Don't let robotics ruin your report card, but don't let the fear of a B ruin your opportunity to learn amazing things and have terrific once-in-a-lifetime experiences.