By Mircka Garcia (Staff Writer)
I have a hard time balancing my family responsibilities and those of a student. As a Galileo senior at times it is difficult to give my all at school and also dedicate myself completely to studying while also giving a lot of my time to my siblings.
This situation most often has to do with my role as an older sister of 2. I have two brothers who are both younger than me, one is 14 and the other is 3. Taking care of my brothers can make moments at home stressful, as I cannot concentrate or dedicate all of my focus to my school assignments. My attention is often divided to make sure that the appropriate care is being given to both younger children.
Everyday I have to make sure I come straight home from school in order to make food for the youngest for when I pick him up and make myself available to help Gian, the oldest, with whatever homework assignment he is having a difficult time with that day. This is usually followed by cleaning around the house and reducing the chores on the to-do list which range from washing dishes, the laundry, mopping, emptying small trash cans, and unpacking groceries.
Seeing that most of my afternoon is spent at home, I cannot spend after school time hanging out with friends or participating in extracurricular activities that take place after school. It is also difficult to plan outside activities with friends and family throughout the week, and while moments of free time can open up throughout the week they are sudden and are difficult to coordinate with friends.
And yet my brothers have given me the opportunity to grow into a responsible person, thanks to them I have learned basic food preparation skills, and because babies and teenagers are naturally very messy I have come to learn quick and efficient ways to clean all kinds of spills, dirt, and mess. I have also learned how to keep everything organized, the importance of maintaining a to-do list, and how to keep on top of scheduled tasks. And although I have learned all this it does not mean I am very good at most of them but I have learned their importance and how to apply them to my role as a Galileo student.
And although being an older sister has some benefits and drawbacks, it is hard because I am responsible for two lives and there are moments where it is rewarding because I get to be a big part of my younger brother’s lives and apply skills that I have learned into practice in my roles as a student.
