Everyone says junior year is the hardest year in high school, but senior year is ACTUALLY hell. I don’t think junior year was thatttttt bad, but we have to think of the factors that go with it. Sure, IB classes started then, but it was just an introduction to the subjects and the IB curriculum. The real stress of college applications, school, and home responsibilities make senior year the hardest. Here are MY reasons for thinking so:
- Common Application
The whole college application process is THE primary stressor. The Common App has more than 1,000 questions I need to answer on its own and multiple mini-essays for each college that might just determine how my years after high school will be. I sit, casually answering these life-altering questions. I’ve probably revised my essay more than ten times, and I’m just sick and tired of it now. This process requires a never-ending fountain of time that I do not possess.
- IB work and Internal Assessments (IA)
This year, the second-year IB classes mainly consist of essay after essay. Whether it be IA’s or just English writing in general, we’re given a lot of work piled on top of each other. My fingers are tired from all the typing I do these days. Things get extra complicated when you have tests in classes you don’t even learn in. Slideshows with very little information are posted, but that’s not everyone’s way of learning. The tests look like something even Albert Einstein would’ve struggled with.
- Senioritis
Well… I’m too tired for this. I’m currently sitting in my room watching Netflix, but instead, something is telling me I’m supposed to be writing a 3,000-word essay? I don’t think so. The real question is, why are we doing all this homework in this economy? It’s 2023. The school system needs an update ASAP.
- Jobs
You’d be surprised by the number of seniors with actual lives outside of school and school work. Shocker, I know! People have after-school or weekend jobs that also take up their time. I truly believe teachers sometimes forget that we have stuff to do outside of school and we’re just teenagers. We need time for ourselves as well.
I hope next semester will be better than whatever this was… I know it’ll be filled with studying for the IB exams, but that’s okay. Best of luck to the current and upcoming seniors. Biggest advice: Be prepared.
