Junior year moodboard on Pinterest, Photo courtesy of user kaitlynbugg.
Dear A’28,
The sun has officially set on your sophomore year, and the morning of junior year has shown its face. Welcome to the year of Ring Ceremony, black sweaters, and a million tests. Junior year has a lot of bad publicity, even outside Duchesne due to the stress of the ACT, the beginning of the college search, and awkwardness of being a junior. Here are some tricks and tips to make the junior jitters a little more bearable.
1. Do NOT listen to the seniors.
This sounds a little counterintuitive. Why not take the advice from those who have gone through what you are experiencing right now? However, the seniors will just tell you how great next year is, how classes are much easier, and there is light at the end of the tunnel. No matter how genuine and well-meaning the seniors are, these words do not help. The “silver lining” will not help you when you have three tests back-to-back on the same day or when you have an in-class essay over a book you did not read. Seniors are blinded by graduation, their pins, and their off campus frees. I say this while wearing my grey polo! But they are a valuable resource for signing up for classes next year so do not push them away entirely.
2. Focus in on classes
The academic transition from sophomore to junior year is very steep. Deadlines get shorter, assignments are worth more points, and tests are more frequent. The consensus amongst A’27 is our top three hardest classes were: U.S history with Ms. Gilreath, Physics with either Kreis or Hervert, and Sacraments/World Religions with Mr. Friesner. For Physics, I made sure I did my Webassign and turned it in on time. With Mr. Hervert it was a calm 30 points. For APUSH, I would take notes on paper because my iPad would often distract me. For Religion, I would use flash cards to help me remember dates and people. I rarely took notes in either Sacraments or World Religons and I walked out with a 95%, but do this at your own risk. This sounds like a lot of work, and it is, but do not let that discourage you. Rely on your classmates and Quizlet to help you study. You got this. Even if it does not feel like it.
3. Plan ahead
Junior year has a bunch of events: Prom, Ring Ceremony, Homecoming, and more. So it is important to plan your outfit at least two weeks before the event. I can count on both hands how many times I have been worried my dress would not make it on time before an event. This can also go for tests and meetings. Test dates can sneak up on you, and you do not want Mrs. Swanson to catch you unprepared at your college meeting.
My final piece of advice is to keep your head up. Junior year is the most tremulous time in your whole high school career. The stress can be unbearable, but you need to realize as a Junior your words have weight and your actions are influential. Juniors are an important part of the school. The underclassmen look up to you, and the seniors cannot wait to ring you!
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