Seniors Mimi Choy and Olivia Li are double-booked with the upcoming Gov Team trip

They say lightning never strikes twice in the same place. If only life was so merciful upon our schedules.

The situation looks busy for senior Olivia Li. Two trips, back to back. On March 27, a trip to Washington, D.C. to speak about legislature with Congressional staff, among other things. Then a trip back to San Francisco on March 27. Drive back home. Take the 8 a.m. flight to Hawaii with the rest of Variations on March 28.

All in 24 hours’ work.

Li, like so many before her, is a victim of a phenomenon known as the scheduling conflict. When Li signed herself up for two of her biggest trips this year, she did not anticipate the possibility of them being so close to one another. The Gov Team trip was supposed to be on another week, the Hawaii trip another month. Now, she will not only have a hectic schedule, but she will also lose sleep because of the vast time difference between Washington, D.C., and Hawaii.

“[This trip] might mean more late nights than I’m used to,” Li said.

This is not the first time Li’s schedule has been so hectic—she had AP tests soon after international DECA competitions last year.

“It involves you studying on the plane,” Li said, going on to explain that she had AP testing in addition to a week’s worth of class notes and homework to catch up on.

Ultimately, the scheduling conflict didn’t affect her performance in either of her endeavors. Li is convinced the same will be true for the upcoming trips.

“You get a lot of support from friends,” Li said, “and there’s always someone in the same position as you.”

Meanwhile, senior Mimi Choy faces an even tighter schedule in between her Drama and Gov Team trips.

March 27, 4 p.m. Ashland, Oregon: The Oregon Shakespeare Festival ends. The Gov Team trip has already started. Most of the Drama students take the bus home, but Choy is not taking the conventional route.

11 p.m. The bus is scheduled to arrive in Cupertino. Choy’s parents pick her up and make a mad dash to Vacaville, where they eat dinner.

11:59 p.m. Choy’s flight to from San Francisco International Airport to Washington, D.C., takes off—with or without Choy.

“When I signed up for the Oregon Shakespeare Festival, it was supposed to be during spring break,” Choy said.

But the hotel was full, so Drama advisor Holly Cornelison had to reschedule the trip to March 25-27. As soon as Choy found out, she talked to Cornelison and received permission to back out early.

“There’s a very reasonable chance that I won’t make it,” Choy said. “But I really don’t want to miss my flight.”

Though Li and Choy were given the choice between the Gov Team trip and their other commitments, they chose both. The two have been scheduled into a tight corner before, but they know that this time, they are taking on something much different. They’re going to need good communication, good transportation, and a lot of good luck.

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