2 minute read
Hey there, upperclass-folks! It’s wild, isn’t it? Freshman year, you feel like you’ll never figure out the whole high school environment. Sophomore year, you’re starting to get your sea legs. And then suddenly junior year hits like a sneaky iceberg, and you’re feeling a little overboard and a lot overwhelmed.
Because things get so serious so quickly. One day you’re taking the PRELIMINARY-SATs, and then the next, you’re signing up for the real SAT, which is asking you if you would like to send your scores to colleges. But you don’t know if that’s a good idea since you haven’t even taken the test and therefore don’t know your score yet and also don’t have your list of colleges finalized and truly haven’t even sat down and thought about what you want to study, so how could you even begin to narrow down your school list and suddenly there’s a teeny whisp of panic forming just above your left ear. And as that panic slinks across your brain, it’s very easy to lose track of the now.
So let’s pause for a second, take a deep breath, and talk about the beauty of the now.
Compared to a few years ago, you’re so much more familiar with the ins and outs of high school. You may have stared down an AP test, iron-gripped the steering wheel at the DMV, or nailed your first job interview. You may have experienced your first break-up, had your first big friend reconciliation, and or lost a loved one. That is a lot to handle in just a few hormone-filled years.
Teens go through an immense amount of growth in high school – emotional, physical, social, and intellectual. So many experiences during the high school years require courage and bravery, but that rarely gets recognized. We generally consider these milestones “normal” instead of appreciating the strength and resilience they require. Each person’s journey is complicated and unique, and each is a heavy load to carry while still very much a kid. (You may not feel like a kid in high school, but your brain doesn’t stop developing and maturing until your mid- to late-twenties.)
When things get too hectic and the pressure feels like too much, remember that you’re still at the very beginning of your life and experience,
and it makes sense that you’re having these feelings.
Ask for help if all of your priorities seem to be stacking up like a doomed game of Tetris. A parent or mentor can help sort through emails or schedule an SAT or ACT prep class. Try to shift your focus to include the things you loved when you were younger, like spending time with friends, being silly, and finding joy in little wins. Take advantage of days off to really relax and recharge. Deadlines are of course important, but so too is the rest that allows you to meet them.
So. upperclass-folks, enjoy the last few semesters of your high school years; they’re unlike any other time in your life. Make sure you’re making happy memories alongside the hours of studying and practicing. And when you can, stop and take a centering breath to slow the world down just a little.
If you’re not sure where to start in preparing for the all-important standardized tests, check out our affordable classes. They’ll remove so many of the common unknowns that students have about the SAT and ACT.