With the second semester here, many juniors agree that the late-night study sessions, looming deadlines, and busy schedules are becoming the norm. This leaves students with the struggle of balancing academics, extracurriculars, relationships, and mental health.
It is a well known fact that junior year is the time for students to challenge themselves. Many do this in the form of rigorous AP classes, honors courses, and time-consuming homework. In addition to academics, juniors also put extracurriculars and jobs on their plates as well, ranging from applying to clubs and playing in sports, to volunteering and running for leadership roles. These commitments can be rewarding, but they are also stressful.
“I maintain a rigorous extracurricular schedule that requires daily commitment. First, I hold leadership roles as a Girl Scout Board Member, a participant in the SCA General Assembly, and secretary for Mu Alpha Theta,” said junior Kaitlyn Salway. “I am an active member of the National and Rho Kappa Honor Societies. I balance these responsibilities with the technical demands of Salem’s Dance Academy and recreational dance.”
A major source of pressure from the second semester of junior year comes from college preparation. With the Common-App application approaching, students feel the need to stand out. High GPAs, SAT scores, and impactful extracurriculars are the “standard” for success nowadays. The pressures that students face can lead to the overloading of schedules, sacrificing sleep, and deteriorating mental health.
“It’s [academic validation] a double-edged sword,” said Salway. “While it requires a disciplined approach to my sleep routine and time management, it also provides the emotional and social enrichment that keeps me grounded and motivated to keep working.”
It is a challenge to keep balance.
“Sometimes students will be so focused on not failing or not getting in trouble with their parents, so they’ll put their mental and physical health on the back burner,” said AP Spanish teacher Ashley Pate. “I was guilty of it in school, too, and I wish I had listened to my body more.”
“Everyone has different strengths and weaknesses, and everyone has different things going on in their lives. Some people might balance things differently, because they have more experience or skills in an area,” said Pate. “Similarly, some students are balancing additional things, like a job, taking care of siblings, or mental health concerns.”
Juniors who meet these “academic levels of success” are often not happy and are overly stressed.
Despite this standard of success during junior year, there are ways to overcome these demands.
“Believe in yourself and don’t be so hard on yourself, especially if you get a bad grade on something. There will most of the time always be an opportunity to bring your grade up,” said Reyes. “Also, please don’t be afraid to talk to your teachers or ask them questions. If teachers see how much of a hard worker and determined student you are, then they will remember you and take that into consideration.”
Pate encourages students to remember about their health.
“If you don’t take care of yourself, you will get burnt out. When I have a lot of work to do, I like to set timers,” said Pate. “I’ll maybe set a 50-minute timer to work on a task, then allow myself 10 minutes to relax. This way, I am able to balance my workload better. I would definitely suggest it for students!”
Learning to manage stress now, rather than later, may help students build skills that benefit them beyond just their high school experiences.
Junior year is a time of self-discovery and growth. By using certain strategies, students can travel through junior year without sacrificing their well-being.
