“I’m not going to get into college.”  “I was up until 2 a.m. finishing my homework.”  “I don’t do enough activities to put on my resume.”  “I have no social life.”  “I’m going to bomb the SAT.”  Do these phrases sound familiar?  As you walk the halls of Stamford High School these are just some of the typical statements you may hear, and juniors are generally the culprits.  It was not until our own junior year began that we noticed more and more of our peers in a constant state of distress.  We are told by many that junior year can “make or break you.” No matter what classes a student takes, or the activities they participate in, there is always constant pressure looming overhead throughout junior year.

As juniors, the three of us are constantly stressed about something: be it the possibility of yet another pop quiz in pre-calc, or the upcoming hot-seat in AP US History, or otherwise. We have often become distraught in our journalism class, as it separates these two stress-inducing periods. Mr. Ringel began to take notice and gave us the name “Team Anxiety.” This very fitting nickname led us to question the sudden increase in our stress level during junior year. Each of us, while having different schedules in and out of school, have been greatly affected by the new pressures.  On a typical night it is likely that we will spend several hours on homework and participate in at least one extracurricular activity, resulting in very little free time and less than the necessary amount of sleep for teens.

Security guard Mike Gonzalez believes “teenagers should be care free” and that “this should be the best time of their lives.” So then why are we so stressed? This is not only a question that we’ve personally thought about, but also a misunderstanding of many adults who don’t believe that we should be so stressed at such a young age. In a way, they are correct. We do not have the same pressures as adults. We don’t have to worry about paying rent, maintaining a job, or supporting a family. However, we are faced with a different kind of pressure: our future.  Not only must we worry about finishing our homework or studying for tests, but we must also focus on being well-rounded students. It is not enough to maintain exceptional grades; we are obligated to participate in extracurricular activities, play on a sports team, volunteer, score well on the SATs, and even get a job. People may question why we attempt to do all of these things, but the reality is that they have not only become expectations of colleges, but practically requirements of being a competitive student.

Since some may consider our thoughts extreme, we decided to ask some of our peers how they feel about junior year.  When asking Alexa Bear if she has felt an increased pressure since last year, she said “Yes, because this year I have to worry about SATs, college, and it’s the first time that I have participated on a varsity sports team which is a big commitment.” Similarly, Andrew Young stated, “Yes, due to the fact that this year has a stronger impact on my future.”  We also decided to ask juniors whether they feel this year is significantly more difficult than previous years in high school.  Erin Maher said, “I do feel an increased amount of stress because everyone talks about how junior year is so important for your future and getting into college.  Also, the workload has increased a lot due to the harder classes.”  Likewise, Kayleigh Browning said, “I definitely feel that this year is more stressful because on top of my three AP classes I have sports, driving school, and SAT/ACTs to worry about.  Not to mention the constant questions on what I want to do with my life and where I want to go to college.”

Even sophomores have begun to plan their schedules in anticipation of their upcoming junior year. When asked if he had any concerns about his schedule, sophomore Brandon Hoak said, “Yes, I’m thinking about my schedule for next year.  I’m contemplating about how to balance art electives with my core academic classes.”  When asked what stresses her out the most about next year, sophomore Erica Stietzel said, “The work, the amount of AP classes, the sports, the scholarships, and probably looking for colleges because I am not quite sure what I’m looking for yet.”

We also looked directly at statistical data.  We asked students with various class schedules and outside activities how many hours of sleep they get on an average night.  Of the students questioned, 85% receive at least two hours less than the recommended eight hours of sleep each night for teenagers.  In addition, 50% of students partake in at least three hours of homework on typical nights and 95% participate in extracurricular activities.  This goes to show that many students sacrifice their sleep for good grades and being well-rounded people.

So if you are a junior feeling more stressed than usual, just know that you are not alone. This year creates an extreme amount of pressure on the majority of students. While it is easy to get overwhelmed by so many extra obligations that you may not have had in previous years, we have learned that it is best to take on one thing at a time.  Although college is in the near future, that does not mean that it must consume all of your thoughts.  Rather than trying to be “smarter,” a “better test taker,” or more “well-rounded,” focus on what is best for you personally.  This year is all about learning how to stand out in a positive way, so it is important that you do not compare yourself to others; just focus on your own qualities.  A little stress can be motivating, but the amount juniors face is unreasonable.  However, if we continue to work hard, do what is best for us, and support one another, we can all conquer this year together!

Yours truly,

Team Anxiety