![Alexander Oki ‘28 picks up trash in the lower parking lot Feb. 20. According to Keep America Beautiful, the majority of the trash found on both roads and waterways consists of fast food wrappers and packaging, receipts and plastic beverage bottles. Clubs like the National Honor Society (NHS) offer students the opportunity to earn service hours by cleaning up the trash in the parking lots. “[The trash] makes us look very unhygienic and unmotivated to be a proper school,” Emberlyse Vidal ‘28 said. “It makes us look like we just don't care about our students' environments.”](https://rockmediaonline.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/20260220_1355020-2-1200x904.jpg)
Managing two extracurriculars is hard enough, but when you add four more on top of that, it becomes a stressful challenge.
Srinidhi Dagam ‘27, who plays both the piccolo and flute for the school band, also participates in Health Occupation Students of America (HOSA), Technology Student Association (TSA), Science National Honor Society (SNHS) and Distributive Education Clubs of America (DECA).
However, without an initial push towards one unexpected class, none of her accomplishments would exist.
“I never wanted to do band,” Dagam said. “I thought that it was the nerdiest thing possible.”
Despite her opinions on the course, in sixth grade, Dagam was placed into band after her first and second choices, theater and choir, filled up.
“I thought I’d do theater in seventh grade instead, but I fell in love with band, and I’m really glad for that opportunity,” Dagam said.
From there, she went on to make sixth chair in the Colorado State University (CSU) honor band, first chair in the school band and became flute section leader and Symphonic Band president.
In addition to her musical success, last year, she participated in a clinical laboratory science event for HOSA, ultimately placing in the top ten at the state level. She hopes to later combine these two passions.
“In the future, I hope to research how music affects our health,” Dagam said. “I want to go into the medical field because I think that it is interesting, and I want to learn more about the human body.”
As a way to manage her workload, Dagam wakes up at 4:00 a.m. to complete homework prior to school. Additionally, she believes in utilizing her available resources to plan out her time productively.
“I recommend getting a planner to organize your upcoming assignments in,” Dagam said. “It really helps me stay focused and on task, especially when I have so much going on outside of school.”
Besides her school activities, she also volunteers at the AdventHealth Hospital in Castle Rock.
“I like volunteering there because it makes me feel good helping my community, and it gets me a glimpse into what the medical field is like,” Dagam said.
Although her schedule is demanding, Dagam continues to pursue her interests through school clubs, courses and opportunities, proving that dedication and passion can coexist, even with a packed schedule.