But it's no cakewalk either.
I went into junior year absolutely terrified. Nothing I had heard about junior year sounded encouraging. I knew my classes would be harder and my stress levels would be greater. I heard that Chemistry was awful, and I wouldn't go a single night without at least an hour of homework.
Top it all off, I knew that junior year was the year I had to start college visiting, ACT/SAT testing and actually planning for the rest of my life. So it's easy to see why I was stressed out and anxious about this year.
I'm not going to lie, a lot of the above is true. The workload does increase. You do need to start planning for the future. You do need to take the ACT or the SAT. Chemistry is awful. (Okay that one might just be because I hate science). And yes, you should do some college visiting during your junior year.
But despite the accurately reported struggles, junior year isn't actually that bad. And surprisingly, because of some of these things, I have enjoyed my junior year.
How we respond to these stressors is what actually determines how they affect us, so I chose to take these things and make them enjoyable.
I chose to enjoy my college visits. Who doesn't love getting to experience new places? Sure, it's kind of scary, but you don't need to make any decisions about where to apply until next year, so just enjoy the experience and learn all that you can.
Use your growing workload to learn about your personal strengths. Before this year, I was the person who would sit down for a few hours and work my way through assignments in one sitting. However, I got super tired of that, super fast. Now, I'll work for a little, then maybe go outside or get a snack, and then work a little more. I've learned to take breaks while I study because it helps you focus better when you're really working.
And as for those ACT's and SAT's, you'll make it through. Nobody enjoys studying for exams, and not many people exactly love to take them. But the majority of your peers will be suffering with you. Once you finish, though, it's going to feel super rewarding.
Classes you don't like are just part of the educational life in high school. For me, it's Chemistry, but for you it could be something different. These aren't just particular to junior year. Doing things you don't always love is part of the game of life, so trying to make the best of these necessary circumstances is key to staying focused and getting through them.
Honestly, junior year hasn't been too scary and I've learned so much about myself. I've actually enjoyed a lot of my classes.
Sure, it's no walk in the park, but it's not the living hell I imagined. Junior year is definitely more challenging than previous years, but it's also a perfect opportunity to learn, which is much more rewarding.
