Hey, my lovely friends! I’m super excited for today’s post. I started my senior year (!!!) this week, and I’ve loved being back in the classroom, tackling new subjects and navigating different schedules. Right now, I’m enjoying school, but I know that in a few months, I’ll be wishing it was springtime and graduation. And I know I’m not the only one who feels this. Whether you’re just starting high school or nearing the end of your high school career, I’ll be sharing some encouragement and motivation to help you stay on track and, hopefully, not feel too impatient to finish up.
The beginning of the school year is always exciting. New classes, new teachers, new notebooks and pens! (That’s possibly my favorite part.) There’s something about starting a brand-new learning adventure that, in the beginning, brings enthusiasm and energy.
As the year progresses, though, school loses its appeal. Classes start to feel tedious, those new notebooks don’t look so new anymore, and that teacher you thought would be your favorite is the one who hands out the hardest homework. When I start to feel this, I want to hurry through the rest of the year, do any extra work I can to get finished sooner. But is this a good idea?
Here’s the thing: learning isn’t something to be hurried. Yes, I know you want to finish and move on to the next thing. But if you’re too focused on getting to the finish line, you miss all the fun things along the way. I’m a senior this year, and I’m already feeling this only one week in. I’m ready to graduate and move on to the next thing. But I was thinking about it the other day, and I had the thought of, “this is my last year in school.” Yes, I’m planning on going to college, but that’s different. This is the last chance I have to learn all I can without the pressure of college classes.
With that in mind, try to make the most of this school year and all the classes you get to take. Rather than becoming obsessed with finishing, focus on doing your best in every class.
Another thing I noticed a lot last year was my tendency to stress about classes. During the second semester, I took a college history class that’s a gen-ed requirement. History is not my favorite subject to begin with, and while I read over the syllabus, I had a brief moment where I thought, “I’m not going to be able to do this. This is going to be a hard class.”
It was a hard class. I got a C on every test except the last one, and the topic I’d picked to research for my project took a lot more time and energy than I expected. (Pro tip: when you need to find primary sources for something, make sure to find sources that don’t require translating.) Because of that, I found myself stressed about the class almost every week, especially towards the end of the semester when my grade dropped to a C.
However, just because a class is hard doesn’t mean that it’s not beneficial, or that it’s necessary to stress about it. As long as you’re doing your best, that’s what matters most. It’s not worth stressing over grades and assignments and giving yourself that mental strain. Not every class is going to be your best subject. I finished the history class with a B and got a 98% on my final project. I’m proud of the work I did and the things I learned, even though most of the semester was difficult.
So, don’t stress about your classes. It does nothing but add frustration and exhaustion to your day. As long as you give every class your genuine best and don’t give up, you’ll do great.
On a more positive note, I want to encourage you to try new things this year! Maybe there’s a science class you’ve been wanting to take but never got to. Maybe you have the opportunity to do an internship as part of your classes. Or maybe you decide to take a college course instead of a high school one. Whatever it is, go for it!
I know it’s hard at first. But it’s worth it! I applied for something this week that, if I’m accepted, will be an amazing learning opportunity. Filling out the application and hitting “Submit” was a little scary, but I’m glad I went for it.
Rather than sticking with the same school routine you have every year, challenge yourself to try one or two new things each semester. Then you can say that you tried it, and maybe you’ll even find a new hobby! Don’t limit yourself only to things that you’ll like. You never know when something you thought would be the worst thing ever becomes your new favorite activity.
It’s going to be a great year! Remember to try hard, do your best, and have fun while you’re at it.
Let’s Chat!
When do you start school? Are you a senior this year? What’s something you’re looking forward to and something you’re dreading about this school year?
