Mary Kate is a freshman who fills her time with multiple extracurriculars. Mary Kate is in the JV choir program, as well as on the JV track team. As the year closes out, she shares how doing both of these activities has impacted her, and if she recommends others participate in two full-time extracurriculars.

Lancer Link: How did you get into choir?

Mary Kate Henriod: I have always loved to perform, but had never done choir. I actually got into it because my friend’s mom signed me up and drove me to the audition without telling me.

LL: What made you love choir?

MKH: I love it so much because it’s such a close community and everyone is such good friends.

LL: What keeps you coming back even on the hard days?

MKH: I really love singing and dancing. I see it as my outlet and it’s the place I turn to when things get hard.

LL: Other than choir what do you do?

MKH: I do cross country in the fall and track and field in the spring.

LL: How do you balance these activities?

MKH: It’s really hard because track is right after school, and I have rehearsals after that. So I tend to not get home until late, especially during tech week. But I love them both, so I make it work.

LL: What’s your best management strategy?

MKH: I learned that it is easiest to shower and eat as soon as I get home.Then rather than staying up late, I wake up early to get all my homework done.

LL: What is your favorite part of doing track and choir?

MKH: I like how busy it makes me and how my time is always spent doing something valuable.

LL: Doing both these activities, is it hard to find time for yourself?

MKH: It is hard to make time for myself. But overall, it’s pretty fun so I don’t mind.

LL: How have doing track and choir benefited you?

MKH: It has made me a lot more confident as a person and as a performer. It has also made me feel like I have the capabilities to balance a lot at once.

LL: Would you recommend doing this to other students?

MKH: Yes, I recommend doing both because there is time. Even when it may seem impossible, you find a lot of fun and friendships in the process.