Very few students at LHS manage multiple extracurriculars during the same season. For Niederauer, her passion for both band and soccer motivated her to take on the challenge.
LHS sophomore Ainsley Niederauer, has been active in both band, orchestra and soccer for most of her life. She has played soccer for nearly seven years and is skilled in multiple instruments. As of recently, she is trying her hand at learning the saxophone. This fall season, Niederauer is exercising both talents at LHS, and is balancing it all with determination and organization.
Freshman year she had kept her passions rather separate, participating in only LHS soccer. Up until this summer, Niederauer had not intended on doing both activities.
“My only plan was to do soccer, but then they had a hole that they needed filled for band, so I stepped in. It actually was a really tough decision because I knew it would be hard to balance all of it… but I knew that I would love it if I did,” said Niederauer.
Niederauer decided that in case of overlap, soccer does take priority over band. But, she still participates in every practice, game and competition possible. The busy schedule these rare students have is the primary reason why most decide against multiple activities. Niederauer’s schedule is just as expected.
“Some days I have school and then soccer and then I go straight to band. Other days I have band before school and soccer after school. My only free day is Sunday,” said Niederauer.
Like other teenagers, Niederauer tries to balance her social life, family, school and extracurriculars. Which, as nearly every student at LHS knows, is not particularly easy. Niederauer’s family plays their own part in supporting her and her busy schedule. Her family had originally approved of her plans during the summer and has continued to encourage her throughout the school year. The last box she aims to check is her friendships. The community she has found in band and soccer is what fills her cup. When trying to find time in her schedule for both fun and friends, Niederauer uses her afterschool practices to her advantage.
“I almost consider the extracurriculars as my fun and my social part, I see all my friends from soccer at soccer, and I see all my band friends at band and then [later I can do] schoolwork,” said Niederauer.
Not only is she supported by both her family and her friends, she plays her own part in uplifting those around her as well. Specifically, on the soccer team.
“I do try to encourage my team and support everyone… At half[time] I try to keep things positive and I try to come up with things that we’ve been doing well and not just negatives,” said Niederauer.
