Hey Google Read Me My Calendar

“Ok, finding the nearest salad bar”

One of the time management tools that I find amazing is Google Calendar (shameless promo). As a Google user, I love that all my calendar is linked on all my devices and that I have the ability to create and edit events even when I can’t access my calendar myself by using my Google assistant. This is starting to read like a Google commercial [Insert Narrator: “Google Assistant: safe, secure, and in your control”]. Anyways, back in early December, I encouraged Jake to start using Google Calendar to help plan out his schedule and so far it appears he’s embraced it! We made a shared calendar some time ago and it has come in handy when scheduling our past brainstorming sessions. This software will be really helpful to keep Jake and me on the same page when it comes to scheduling; for example, we can input the critical path activities as events on Google Calendar.


Like I mentioned in my last blog post, we are heavily focusing on meticulously planning and scheduling the production in order to prevent placing a time-consuming burden on our schedule later on. I’ve come to notice that there are a few things about this year’s scheduling that are different from my scheduling last year, which means my approach also has to be different. Last year I was working alone on my portfolio project and I had about the same availability on my personal calendar with the exception of a few new personal projects I’ve added this year. Unlike last year, I’ve worked in a group so scheduling doesn’t revolve around one person’s schedule but rather it’s about adjusting to each other's schedule and flexibility.

My Scheduling Conflicts 

From here until the estimated production deadline there are quite a few things happening on my schedule but instead of just listing my problems, I want to map out solutions. So here’s my attempt at planning to overcome my scheduling conflicts:

Spamalot 

My school is putting on the Tony-winning musical Spamalot based on the Monty Python film “Monty Python & The Holy Grail”. As a first-year theater kid on a second level class, I’m very thankful for having been entrusted with the lead male character (King Arthur). However, this is a time commitment especially as we get closer to April when rehearsals will be happening after school and when I have to spend time memorizing lines, etc. To overcome this conflict I’ve requested that my AMT (American Musical Theater) teacher gives me the rehearsal dates in advance so that I can plan appropriately. In addition, I plan on being very communicative with Jake about this particular activity because he’s been in multiple productions and has more experience in managing his time around shows so he can give me pointers on how to approach my schedule.

NDA/Cypress Bay NDA

This one is a big one. I work on NDA (The National Dreamers Association) year around, not only for my school’s chapter but for the national entity. My work usually amounts to 15 hours a week and can certainly be time-consuming, but it’s for a great cause. Cypress Bay NDA is a motivational club focused on empowering CBHS students to pursue their dreams (or future career aspirations) through events that present inspiring stories from successful members of our community-focused around

important personal development themes. There’s a lot happening in the National team as we prepare for one of the most radical changes to our structure in recent history. And in the chapter level, there’s an event, a workshop, and multiple activities in between that are happening. These activities and changes take energy and time to plan and execute, and they’re happening simultaneously to the portfolio project. Jake and I are both in the leadership for the school’s chapter which means we both share this conflict, it also means we can both schedule things for the club around our project schedule vs it being the other way around (which is a huge advantage).

Spring Break

Surf surf! Surf surf crazy! (yes, that WAS a teen beach movie reference). Spring break is a bittersweet time of year. On one hand, it is a time to relax and lose some of the stress that I constancy carry with me through the year. On the other hand, it is the PERFECT opportunity to advance in personal projects and in the portfolio project, working to get some steps ahead while everyone sits back and sips non-alcoholic Pina Coladas. Jake and I have talked a little about working through the break, but we’re not sure on what and how because he is on a trip and my plans aren’t made yet. This is one is a conflict I’m gonna have to wait out to see how it unfolds.

Weston U 
Apart from my extracurricular activities, I also participate in a program called Weston University. I miss a whole day of school every month to participate in this program and even though it doesn’t feel like its time consuming, it IS one full day of work that could be possibly spent working on the portfolio project in class. Thankfully, I am aware of all the program dates ahead of time and we can just move something we HAVE to do together to the afternoon vs at school.

 Project X3
Yes, this is exactly what it sounds like. I was recruited by the CIA for a secret mission in an undisclosed location where I will meet my English point person. And then I woke up! But in all seriousness, I wish I could speak to Project X3 in more detail; what I can say is that it is a HUGE time-consuming commitment that is taking up more and more time in my schedule and its intensive work period is likely to come while we’re working on the production and post-production aspects of our portfolio project. I don’t really know how I’ll balance this work yet, but I’m confident that I’ll figure it out with some guidance from my media teacher.

Other Commitments 
Besides the conflicts I’ve listed above, there are smaller conflicts like eventual mentorship calls and other school projects that may come up in the near future. There’s always the possibility that I get called away to Walt Disney World in March for a weekend to participate in a motivational program as an Alumni leader. By “other commitments” I’m referring to the unexpected, the commitments that can or will occur that I can try to anticipate and prepare for by using the time allocated to working on the project properly and reduce my senioritis (which is undoubtedly real even when I don’t want it to be).