What to Do When You Feel like School is Taking Over Your Life

By: Sonia G.

Copyright free

Does the school week ever seem like a boring routine to you? Do your days look the same? Do you have time for family and friends, or do you feel like school is taking over every aspect of your life? School should be a priority, but it should not be the only one. Your family, friends, and possibly religion are also a priority, and if you play a sport or do activities outside of school, you have even more priorities to balance. But sometimes, school and all the stress that comes along with it can feel like it’s taking over everything. 

You might feel like your projects and studying barely leave you with time to interact with family and friends. Or that all of the cumulative stress leaves you unable to function. Either way, I have developed a plan that can help you whenever you begin to feel like school is becoming your life. 

First, I would recommend that you take breaks. If you can find a way to work and then take a break, you can give yourself a boost of energy. Your break can be as quick as checking your email or as lengthy as watching a movie. Just make sure that whatever you choose, your break is not longer than your work time and still allows time for you to finish the rest of your work. 

Another idea is for you to work during times that you do not typically think of as being opportunities to do schoolwork. Depending on your school, you may have a study hall or designated time when you can work. If you’re not as lucky, I would like to point out times that you may have overlooked. For example, on the ride to and from school, you have time to read and study. At lunch, you can create a study group with other friends and study, do worksheets, or work on projects. By applying this principle to your own life, you may also find other “free periods” that you can take advantage of. This will help you free up space so that you don’t have as much to do. 

Finally, I would like to suggest that you allow yourself to relax. Take time to do things that you enjoy so that you can approach your schoolwork with a clear mind. When you are able to focus on your assignments, you are much more likely to put forth the best effort possible and do much better than you could have done when distracted. 

A Letter to My Peers

By: Sonia G. 

To all my fellow high schoolers,

Picture by Angelina N.

As we find ourselves preparing for a new school year filled with new adventures, I would like to encourage you to continue to strive for excellence. Continue to push yourself to try new things. Join a new club at your school or better yet, start something that you’ve always wanted to participate in. As a rising junior, I find myself with only a short time left in high school. I have realized that you have to take advantage of every opportunity available. High school is the time to make connections, so take this school year as the time to put yourself out there and meet new people. You should also take this year to experiment in all aspects of your life. Figure out what works for you because the habits that you develop now will influence your physical and mental health in the future. 

While there will be a lot of exciting things to work on this year, I also have some advice for you all. Whatever isn’t working for you, whatever is keeping you from being who you want to be and whatever is holding you back from moving on, push it away. Find what works for you, and eliminate everything else. I always like to refer people to the 90 percent rule, which states that if an item or activity’s rating is less than 90 out of 100, your response should be “no”. I believe that this rule should be used to allow you to purge the negativity from your life. Use this rule to help yourself quit harmful habits and to replace those habits with practices that will help you improve your life. 

When the first day of school arrives, if it hasn’t already, remember to make the most of this year. If you are a rising freshman, know that high school and middle school are vastly different. If you did not enjoy middle school, that does not mean that you won’t enjoy high school. If you didn’t enjoy high school, then try looking at it through a different lens. I believe that with the support from your friends and family, you will be able to make your high school years unforgettable. This school year, eliminate the things that are holding you back, and take advantage of every opportunity that you can to find what gives YOU purpose, a purpose that may be your driving force for long past your high school years. 

Conquering AP Exams

By: Gracie B.

Jtk13 [CC BY-SA 4.0 (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0)]

AP exam season can be a difficult time, especially for students taking their first exam or juggling multiple tests. However, like most standardized tests, AP exams are highly predictable in their structure and content. By preparing diligently and employing effective test-taking strategies, you can conquer your AP exams.

Before the Exams

It is crucial to ensure that you have completed all pre-registration materials. If you are taking an exam for a class that is not offered at your face-to-face school, touch base with your school’s testing coordinator to make sure your test has been ordered and is scheduled for administration. Keep track of which of your tests are morning sessions and which are afternoon sessions. Morning exams start at 8:00 a.m., while afternoon exams begin at 12:00 p.m. One notable exception to this schedule is the Physics C: Electricity and Magnetism exam, which begins at 2:00 p.m. Prepare to arrive at your testing center at least thirty minutes before your exams and make sure you have eaten and are well-rested before testing.

One of the most valuable resources to prepare for AP exams is College Board’s AP Central, which contains free response questions from previous years’ tests. It also provides scoring rubrics and sample student responses. You will find that the College Board tends to ask similar types of questions every year, so studying past tests is an invaluable use of your review time. The College Board publishes a limited number of multiple choice questions on their website, but you can find additional practice tests in targeted prep books such as those published by the Princeton Review. These books also review course content. Khan Academy is another useful resource that provides free videos, summaries, and practice questions for AP subjects such as Calculus and Art History.

Study Resources:
College Board’s AP Central: https://apcentral.collegeboard.org/courses
Khan Academy: https://www.khanacademy.org/

During the Exams

As you take your AP exams, keep in mind how the tests are scored. On some exams, students may be able to pass by answering only about 60% of the questions correctly. You can still earn a four or a five on an AP exam without being able to solve every problem. The key to mastering AP tests is to find a way to maximize your score by focusing on your strengths. A Calculus BC student struggling with Taylor Series might skip the last free response question and focus his or her energy on answering the other questions. When you are stuck on one specific question, it is often best to make an educated guess and move forward to ensure that you have enough time to complete the rest of the test.

Another key strategy is to look for patterns throughout AP tests. AP exams, especially those in history and social science, often reinforce a series of overarching themes. For instance, you are almost guaranteed to see questions about race relations, women’s rights, and the expansion of America’s role in international affairs on the AP United States History exam. If you understand these underlying concepts, you can often make deductions that will lead you to correct answers. For example, if you know that Native Americans were treated unfairly throughout U.S. history, you can infer that a specific conflict may have been caused by the displacement of natives from their homelands. While some students scramble to memorize every last piece of information pertaining to a subject, those with a deeper understanding of the material are often most successful on AP tests.

After the Exams

AP scores are released in July. The exact date you will receive your score depends on your state. Your school should have issued you an AP number card with instructions on how to log into College Board to view your scores. A score of three is considered passing, as the College Board recommends that a student who earns this score is qualified to receive college credit. A student who scores a four is well qualified, and a student who scores a five is extremely well qualified to receive credit. College Board offers no credit recommendation for test-takers who score a one but states that those who score a two may qualify for credit, depending on the university they attend. Any AP scholar awards you receive will be added to your account in the days following your initial score release. Remember, while a stellar AP score can allow you to place out of introductory college classes, failing an AP test is not uncommon and will not ruin your prospects for future academic success. Most colleges do not require the submission of AP scores as part of the application process, and students who scored poorly may actually benefit from retaking a course in a university setting.

By applying the strategies and information discussed in this article, you can work to ensure that your AP testing season is successful and stress-free.



Sources:
“About AP Scores.” College Board, apscore.collegeboard.org/scores/about-ap-scores/.
“AP Calendar.” College Board, apstudent.collegeboard.org/takingtheexam/ap-calendar.
Cracking the AP U.S. History Exam. Penguin Random House, 2018.

In Over Your Head

By: Isabella S. 

Did you know that the way a diver makes known that they need to ascend is a thumbs up? It may be used if something is wrong with breathing equipment or there is some other emergency. However, if you or I saw this gesture we would likely believe it to a be a positive symbol. Sometimes, one can appear to be doing just fine, when they are really signalling for help.

Picture by Isabella S.

You may be turning in all of your homework on time, only to go to class and struggle with the next test. You may have many friends, but replace your own needs with theirs. Maybe you are the star of a sports team, but you no longer find joy in playing. You may be the leader of a school club, but have trouble seeing progress. Maybe you are the paradigm of a good student, but don’t take time to build friendships. You may be involved in every community organization and every club that comes your way, but you can’t give your full effort to any cause.

In high school, there are many responsibilities one may assume and you are most likely surrounded by people giving you advice on how best to succeed (that is what this blog is for). As you swim through these various waters be careful of your own limits. It is okay to abandon surging tides, even if you have been swimming in them for a long time. It is okay to ask for help and it is okay to fail.

At the beginning of your high school career it is important to experiment with different dives. It is necessary for you to explore your interests or potential interests. You may jump in to various groups and realize that this pool is not for you. If you are no longer interested in playing basketball, or the debate club is no longer acting as a vehicle for your own personal progress, or maybe you are not sleeping for more than a couple hours each night, it may be time to ascend.

As you read through this blog and garner advice on how to be successful, remember that your definition of success is most important. Do not jeopardize your own mental and emotional health in order to fit society’s notion of success. You may be successful in becoming a positive role model for your younger siblings. Success may look like being the friend that everyone can lean on for support and good advice. Success may be exploring a nagging question through research and discussion. It may include becoming more independent or learning to depend on others. If you are looking back at 2018 and feel like you’re sinking, use the new year to make changes. Ask your friends and family to help you re-evaluate your life and see where you are in over your head. Reflect on your situation by making a list of what you are involved in and what you want to be involved in. Do not forget to give yourself credit for all of your success this past year.

An Important Note: Your struggle may be more serious than simply reducing your load or joining a new group. If you are sinking and cannot find a way up, it is important that you ask for help. No diver jumps in without someone on shore to help pull them out. Seek the help of your parents, a guidance counselor, a mentor, or another trusted adult. If you are experiencing more difficulty than you feel comfortable sharing or believe you need help from someone more qualified, there are resources available. You will find some of them at this link: https://giveusthefloor.org/resources/#hotlines. It is also important that you understand that you are not alone. Many students experience distress, but we misread their gesture as a thumbs up.