The baja balance

HOW TO COMBINE HEAVY HOMEWORK LOAD WITH YOUR CDS TEAM RESPONSIBILITIES.

WHEN THE SUSPENSION IS DESIGNED but shocks have not been bought yet, or when it's two days before the first competition and the drivetrain still has issues to be resolved, seeing your team captain take naps on foam pads becomes normal. Although the irreplaceable experience of being a part of a collegiate SAE team may possibly be one of the most rewarding experiences in your life, you will probably encounter a well-known dilemma among CDS team members: successfully balancing classes with extracurricular activities.

As a Baja member at the University of Rochester, I have found myself choosing between attending a competition and spending an extra hour revising a Spanish essay. Sometimes, turning in an assignment without asking for an extension seemed impossible. When I joined the team as a sophomore, I didn't see this being a common problem among the upperclassmen in our club. It was as if I was the only one who hadn't figured out how to make both the team and my school work fit into my life. However, after two years on the team, I finally learned the secret to turning Baja-which sometimes felt like a side career-into a manageable part of my schedule. The key to this predicament was nothing radical like I expected. Over time, tasks in Baja became like hobbies, homework sets became easier, and, depending on the homework group, even entertaining. Why? Because I was enjoying both.