Starting your freshman year off in High school can be difficult sometimes. The change of expectations from middle school to high school differs and can be a lot more challenging. That is why it is important to pace yourself and create a schedule that works best for your academic abilities and personal life.
Senior Liam Wilde created a schedule that helped him feel comfortable and steady, “I loved taking AP Macro because Deeder is such a great teacher, and I had lots of friends in that class. We had such a fun time together, but also did a lot of work. I don’t necessarily regret taking classes because they had too much work; I just regret procrastinating the work. It was hard because I had lots of friends that I would talk to, but then I had to do the work late at night or instead of doing other things later, which sucked.”
The classes you take at the beginning of your high school career impact your friendships, interests, and work ethic. However, it does not impact your whole future, and it is very easy to branch out and try something new as you continue to grow older. Finding classes that speak to your interests should be entertaining to you, and possibly rigorous if you like challenging yourself.
Senior Abby Khamvongsa suggests, “focusing on what you are doing in the moment rather than focusing on sports and clubs. Also, make time to do the things that interest you in your free time.”
Most significantly, taking classes that fit into your own schedule will help you succeed. Trying to take harder classes because your friends are, might not be the right fit for you as an individual learner. As well as taking an elective class like choir with your friend. Being with friends is comfortable, but not always effective, because there might be a better alternative to spark an interest for you.
Sophomore Baylor Hughes says, “I took Creative writing and didn’t have any friends in my class originally, but I ended up making some new ones. I also had a great time doing the work and focusing with no distractions. I never regretted taking any of the electives I took because they were all fun.”
Balancing your school life with your personal life is critical. Pacing a schedule allows you to hang out with family and friends, find a job, continue to work hard in your sport, etc. This can reduce a lot of stress and help you prioritize the most important things in your life before jumping into more challenges.