Photo by MAX DEARINGER

Since the day I first stepped into high school, warnings about junior year circulated. “Junior year is the worst.” “You’re going to hate it.” “Oh, you’re a junior? Good luck.” These thoughts terrified me. I remember sitting with my counselor at the end of my sophomore year when we began talking about what classes to take. I listed my desired course and my counselor said directly, “Junior year is going to be rough.” As I’m now finishing up my junior year, I’m happy to say it wasn’t all that bad for me. There are only a few things to remember when navigating this tricky time: socialize, focus on yourself and manage your time. 

I know you’ve heard it over and over again, but it’s true–socializing will get you through high school. Everyone around you is experiencing the same thing. The same fear, uncertainty, loneliness. So lean on those people. Find friends who fuel you and encourage your success. Knowing someone is by your side creates a strong sense of security during a time of so much wondering. I spent my freshman and sophomore years with negative people. I was so scared of judgment and loneliness that I forced myself to maintain unhealthy friendships, no matter how toxic or fake it was. Once I found my voice and explored my ability to hold my own thoughts, I flourished. I put aside my fears, separated from those friends and found my people. I found people who don’t drain me, but rather ignite me at all times. Don’t be scared to meet people. Sure, it can be overwhelming and uncomfortable, but the more you act confident and secure, the quicker you’ll actually associate with these feelings. The best thing I did this year was find my people. I found a family in the journalism room and built relationships with my teachers so school didn’t seem as much like a chore. Don’t get me wrong, I’d much rather be anywhere else but school. But holding relationships with the people I see every day made the eight-hour day much less painful. 

Before choosing my junior year schedule, I looked into what would be right for me and my future plans. I took mostly TCC classes rather than AP and I’d recommend that to anybody. Well, only if you don’t actually care about learning. I learned close to nothing in TCC, but it was a good time so who cares. Honestly, TCC classes are easy. The professors don’t care to baby you and hold your hand, so I was able to retain the information better as I had my own freedom in lessons. Another TCC bonus lies on Fridays. Professors don’t hold classes on Fridays so students get to sit in the library during their TCC period as a study hall. It’s a good opportunity to knock some work out and limit the amount of time you spend working at home. 

Now let’s talk mental health. In my opinion, mental health is equally, if not more important than physical health. At the beginning of junior year, I was at a very low point. My first semester was filled with anxiety, stress and overwhelming thoughts that wouldn’t leave. I didn’t prioritize myself and my mind. I woke up exhausted, struggled through school, went to work, went to sleep late, and did it all over again the next day. Then, one day after Christmas break, my entire mindset changed. I don’t know what happened or what sparked it, but I started to care more about myself than my grades or performance. Which is, objectively, the proper mindset to obtain. I began going to the gym, eating better, finding and building genuine relationships, attending therapy and doing things for ME. I saw so much improvement in my mental health after making these small changes. In return, I performed better in school as I was happier and more motivated to do so. In all the craziness of the year, don’t forget about yourself. Go for a walk, eat your favorite meal, do something that ignites you. It is so much more important to maintain a happy mind than it is to maintain grades. And maybe that’s just my measly opinion, but at the end of the day, you will not succeed if you aren’t happy in your life. Pure joy and comfort is the biggest reward you can earn. Achieving this mindset allowed me to survive the “hardest year of high school”. If you’re worried about making it through, just remember: it’s only nine months/281 days/roughly 180 school days. You got this.