Freshman athlete Emma Rainey moves through her day with a routine built on discipline, planning and a lot of bus rides. Rainey, a multi‑sport athlete, said she keeps her priorities straight by putting schoolwork before anything else.

“I balance school and sports by making sure school always comes first,” Emma said. She sets aside time after practice to finish assignments and works to keep her attendance high so she doesn’t fall behind. On days when games pull her out of class, she uses the downtime to catch up. “At games where I’m gone from school, I usually do my schoolwork there or on the bus,” she said.

Emma relies on a planner to stay organized. She checks it every day after practice, then starts her homework right away. She said avoiding procrastination is one of the biggest reasons she stays on track.

Her 24‑hour routine isn’t all work, though. Emma makes time to rest whenever she can, especially during long travel days. “I like to take naps or relax in the time I can,” she said. That might mean resting on the ride to a meet or leaning back on the way home after a long night.

During track meets, she stays calm until her events. At basketball games, she rests while watching the junior varsity team play.

Emma’s day may be packed, but she said her system works. With a planner in hand and a bus seat to nap in, she manages to keep both her grades and her game strong.