You’ve heard it before. I’ve heard it before. The most dreaded period of high school. The inevitable obstacle that is junior year. As students preparing for our upcoming years of adulthood, we’ve been constantly drilled that junior year is the big cheese of our secondary education. Every class, grade, and extracurricular activity counts towards attaining a college acceptance, and while this all seems incredibly horrifying, there are plenty of resources available to help you succeed.
First, let’s clarify one thing: you are not a machine. You may think you are, but in reality, you are physically and emotionally incapable of doing everything, everywhere, all at once (anyone catch that reference?). Despite this minor setback, it is entirely possible to survive this difficult year using the proper tips and tricks.
Let’s start with the fact that you and your phone might need to take a break. Don’t worry, it’s only temporary, and it won’t leave you to go see other teenagers. In fact, placing your device inside of your drawer for a couple of hours won’t hurt, especially if you have trouble focusing. I can’t begin to recall the number of times that I’ve been hypnotized by my phone, lost in an endless doom scroll when I was supposed to be preparing for an exam. It happens to the best of us, even the most high-achieving students. A helpful tip is to take advantage of the “Do Not Disturb” mode, which temporarily mutes notifications and alerts. Hang tight juniors, it gets easier with practice!
We interviewed West Boca’s very own Science National Honor Society President, high-achieving student Addison Doherty, who managed to maintain a very effective work ethic throughout her junior year. Her best recommendation is to avoid procrastination, as it can double your chances of stress and an overwhelming workload. She also suggests that juniors start their college process as early as possible, and by this, she refers to building connections for recommendations and establishing strong extracurriculars.
In terms of balancing your work with your social life, well, that tends to be the trickiest part. We are often forced to sacrifice a night out with friends or a Thursday night football game to study for a minor quiz the next day. This scenario is common among high school students: choose fun or torture? Unfortunately for us, we are usually compelled to make the most rational decision (with the encouragement of our loving parents). Another rational decision is…wait for it… SLEEP! Yes, I really said it. SLEEP! This is a concept that juniors tend to struggle with the most, and I speak from experience. One of the most valuable choices that you can make during this time is prioritizing your sleep because, in the long run, it’s something that you literally cannot survive without. So, if you’re nearing that past midnight time range, the best choice that you can make for your physical and mental health is to take the necessary rest. At the end of the day, your hard work WILL pay off and you will reach the light at the end of this dark tunnel…SENIOR YEAR!!!
