Dear Incoming Juniors,

Junior year provides: newfound freedoms, new friends, respect, and…who really cares. What you really need to know is how to balance your social life (if applicable) and academics.

• “School comes before anything else”- said every parent ever. The cliché phrase is far outdated (yes parents, I’m calling you old). ATTENTION ALL INCOMING JUNIORS: the remedy is simple– go out to friends’ houses, parties, and “study sessions.” Just do your parents and yourself a favor by finishing your work as early after school as possible. Yes, we all come home after school wanting to kick off our shoes, turn on the TV, and fall asleep to the soothing sounds of SportsCenter or Friends. Don’t do it. Don’t be that kid that’s up until 3:00 a.m finishing your essay assigned a week before because you’ve decided to binge watch an entire season on Netflix. We’ve all been there before, and you shouldn’t be. Finish your work when you get home, go out, enjoy yourself, and don’t do anything too stupid. High school is a time to live your life; it’s finding a balance between the two that makes a student successful.

• Play a sport and don’t get home until late? Simple– either sacrifice your social life for a short time or face the consequences of not finishing your work. Still, think you can master playing a sport and partying without forfeiting academic excellence? You’re wrong. The students who focus on one or two of the many aspects of high school life are the ones who excel. If you’re the type that’s okay with a B instead of an A, or a C instead of a B, then go for it, try your luck doing everything at once. In the long run make the most sensible decisions, that will ensure your success in the future.

• As for standardized testing: get it done early! At this point you can find that the common theme to academic success is having good time management. So get it out of the way, study hard, and don’t fret about one bad score; you’ll have plenty of time to take other tests.

• Ask for help. I find the best way to remain successful in school is to talk to your peers. Study with a friend, do homework with a friend, take tests with a friend (maybe not). Learning from someone other than the teacher can be just as effective, if not better. So if you’re searching for an excuse to socialize while working, this would be an option for you.  

Overall, being a High School Junior is supposed to be fun. You are on your way to becoming ‘big shots’ at the school. You are  justified when making fun of how small the incoming freshman are, and can finally swing your lanyards proudly with actual car keys attached to the bottom. Congratulations for being half way done with your sentence. Good luck to all, and get your act together, you’ll be glad you did.

Sincerely,

Former Juniors