GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. (GRPS) - Between school, tennis, marching band, and his job at New City Neighbors, Sebastian Laninga’s days are filled with different responsibilities that require him to stay organized and make the most of his time.
A sophomore at City High Middle School, Laninga plays singles tennis for the Union boys tennis team. Tennis practice is a regular part of his schedule, as he practices four to five times per week. As soon as school is dismissed, he heads to the courts before moving on to his next commitment.
Laninga also works two days a week at the New City Neighbors farm. His job includes harvesting, cleaning, and preparing food for community-supported agriculture (CSA) shares. He said work is one of his favorite parts of the day because it gives him a chance to step away from the pressures of school and sports.
His schedule also includes marching band. After work, Laninga sometimes heads to rehearsal to prepare for the high school’s show. Homework has to fit in wherever he can find the time, whether that means working on assignments during the school day, between activities, or over the weekend.
Weekends give Laninga a chance to catch up, but they can still be busy. He spends plenty of time completing homework, especially if he has fallen behind during the week. Marching band shows are also sometimes scheduled on weekends, and occasional tennis practices or matches add another commitment.
When he does have free time, Laninga enjoys gardening at home or hanging out at the park.
Balancing this busy schedule isn’t easy, especially when every commitment demands time and attention. For Laninga, the key is making it all work together.
“If you can get your schedule to align with all of your activities, it’ll be balanced,” he said.
This year, that is exactly what Laninga intends to do.