By: Ella D’Auria
“Hell-Year” is the moniker for the most notorious ten months of any high school career: junior year. Expectations are higher, college applications are on the horizon, and it is, ostensibly, the last chance to make yourself a strong candidate. But if I’m being honest, halfway through this experience, the title is way overdramatized.
It’s just not that bad. Perhaps people get scared because they don’t see that while rigor grows, so do they. In my experience, tranquility comes with learning how to do hard better. Thus, after having gone through a high school year almost three times now, I think I’ve grown to find my rhythm, what works and what doesn’t. So here are my recommendations to keep your penultimate year of high school from living up to its name.
- Keep it consistent. By junior year, so much is already cemented. You know the kind of student you are, your strengths, your weaknesses, and your general routine. To some extent, sticking to the status quo is great for retaining a sense of normalcy and, therefore, being the most productive. It’s great to try new things; I started journalism just this year, but make sure any new commitments you make are feasible and won’t compromise the success you already have.
- Be a good communicator. Especially if you are a highly involved student, communication is key. From group projects to last-minute absences, keeping up with others becomes vital to staying on top of a hefty workload. Strong relationships with your teachers are also especially helpful when considering them as potential recommenders. Mastering the art of the email is a skill you will need in the real world.
- Get ahead on the annoying stuff. There are a lot of not-so-fun things that give junior year its reputation. As much as you can, take advantage of downtime in sophomore year or the summer before junior year and knock things off your to-do list. Taking the SAT or ACT? Start in the spring of sophomore year, and you might be done by winter. Old enough to complete your permit test or Driver’s Ed? Go for it. So many small responsibilities pile up, and getting ahead of them can make a huge difference.
- Be realistic and honest with yourself. This applies in many ways, especially when it comes to workload. For example, when choosing your schedule and considering AP English Language, ask yourself whether you can tolerate the amount of reading. If you dislike reading and writing, that class may not be the best fit. Also consider your motivations. Are you joining a club because it interests you or because it looks good? Are you starting a nonprofit to appear like a leader, or because you genuinely want to contribute to your community? From experience, passion is often lost when sacrificed for what seems better for a resume. What matters most is presenting yourself as a passionate, well-rounded person with strong character.
- Do what you love. This is easily the most important. Don’t let the title confuse you. Junior year is hard, but it is not impossible. There will be days when you feel overworked, drained, or discouraged. The best thing you can do is give yourself something to look forward to. For me, even though starting my day with pre-calc isn’t ideal, journalism class and club keep me going. Small things that keep your passion alive are essential for getting through an undeniably challenging year.
In the end, what matters most is staying grounded as responsibilities increase. If you can maintain strong habits, solve problems effectively, and continue feeding your passions, you may find junior year far less hellish than its reputation suggests.
