Growing up and going through your high school years, people always dread their approach to junior year. From expecting an overwhelming workload, stress from standardized tests and preparing their resume for college applications, they don’t expect to ever have a break. Rising juniors usually expect the worst, but it isn’t always as bad as they expect as long as they receive thoughtful advice.
The one thing students always dread is the SAT or ACT. Questions abound over how to prepare or when to take it; that’s why upperclassmen are here to lend out advice. Some of the best advice will come from the people who most recently experienced their junior year. Everyone has different advice to give, generally focusing on what worked the best for them.
“I studied for my SAT early and took it the summer before my junior year. I got a score that satisfied me and so I was done with testing even before junior year started,” senior Ella Reynolds said. “I think studying in the summer is super helpful because you don’t have other school work to worry about and can put your full focus and attention to the test.”
This can be a useful method, but not everyone likes to prepare early. There are others who prefer to take the tests later, giving them more time to prepare and not stress during the summer going into junior year.
“I recommend you start taking your SAT as soon as you feel comfortable. I started in December, and I just took my last one in August. The earlier you start, the more you learn about how to study specifically for the SAT, but don’t stress yourself about it if you feel too busy because you have plenty of time,” senior Sonia Gass said.
Having advice to take on from older peers is helpful when trying to map out schedules, too. When you start planning for these important things, it can be scary to think about starting too early or too late, but in reality, it’s different for everybody. Another aspect of junior year that students underestimate is the amount of work they take on.
“My junior year was really stressful as I took a pretty heavy course load, but I also did a ton of things outside of school to branch out and enjoy myself… I think my coursework was challenging but will prepare me for college and I still had time to have fun outside of school,” Reynolds said.
There’s also words of motivation everyone wants to hear when experiencing a year known to be the most stressful.High school doesn’t have to be stressful unless you make it that way.
“The advice I wish I received and that I want to pass on is to not compare yourself to others. Everyone [can] feel [they’re falling] behind sometimes, but as long as you’re pushing yourself to what feels comfortable but still prioritizing your mental health, you’ll do great,” Gass said.
Junior year doesn’t have to be a year of stress, caution and anxiety, but rather a time to try your hardest and show the limits you’re able to overcome. Although there are a lot of roadblocks that come along with your third year of high school, it goes by like a breeze and every moment should be cherished, even if it isn’t always so positive.
“I think [this is] kind of cliche but it’s not cool to not try in classes … just work your hardest in everything you do. Really cherish the moments, make sure you’re having fun with your friends [and] focus on classes [as well as] making sure you’re having a good social life balance,” senior Daniel Gershon said.
