We had the privilege of interviewing Catherine McMillan,
a student at Duke University
a former student at the North Carolina Governor's School
her documentaries were featured in a screening at the National Museum of African American History and Culture
We asked for advice on: Balancing Life
Here are some notable words she shares:
Choose the few things you are truly passionate about, dive deep, and participate fully.
We are more than numbers.
Q: How did you schedule your time to complete and do well in everything in high school?
A: Sometimes I wonder how I got out of high school in one piece. I had horrible time management skills and often flaked on my work until 9PM. I got it done, of course, but often at the expense of my sleep cycle. I think what kept me going was a prevailing sense of needing to perform well, so through sheer willpower, I was able to muscle through my procrastination tendencies and take care of business.
Q: If you realized you had given yourself too many commitments, how did you determine what to give up?
A: Rank your activities. Prioritize the ones that you list first. Then cut the fat. Do you really need to be in 4 honors societies? Do you really want to be in three separate service clubs? Choose the few things you are truly passionate about, dive deep, and participate fully.
Q: What is one inevitable obstacle we will all have to face in our high school career?
A: Developing a clearer sense of self and purpose when we’ve been conditioned to ascribe self-value based on achievements and test scores. We are more than numbers.
Q: What are some regrets that you have about your high school career?
A: Not giving myself time to breathe, relax, and have fun.
See Catherine's LinkedIn account here!