Balancing Junior Year

Pre-College Issues High School Life
1

Hi! I’m just about to graduate from my sophomore year of HS and I am seeking advice about how to balance my life junior year. Next year, I will be taking two AP classes (AP Lang and APUSH), an honors geometry class (I know it’s weird to take that junior year but I’m a transfer from homeschooling and that’s just how it worked out), I will hopefully be a part of the NHS should my application be accepted, I will be doing cross country and basketball, I will be a part of drama, and I will be working on top of all of it. Outside of school and work I’m heavily involved in my church’s youth group and I have a leader position there. I am absolutely aware that I will need to drop things if my health suffers from my busy schedule or if my academics begin to suffer, but I also know it is possible to balance all these things. I just have never had so many things to do so I’d really appreciate some advice from people who have had similar schedules in high school!

I also want it to be clear that I’m willing to drop things if I need to. My first priority is school, then work, then extracurriculars, and I will adjust my schedule accordingly if I must.

Thanks so much for reading my post and thank you in advance for any advice. :slight_smile:

2
  1. Academics has to be first.
  2. you need to be efficient in your school work. This is helpful: Cal Newport
    Read this book: How to Become a Straight-A Student: The Unconventional Strategies Real College Students Use to Score High While Studying Less by Cal Newport. It helps you with things like time management and how to figure out what to write about for a paper, etc.
  3. is drama in the spring? or same time as sports?
  4. How much do you work?
  5. For the youth group, you have to get people to help you do things.
3

It sounds like you have a busy year… prioritize and stay on top of things- don’t push something off, cause it will build. Get a good calendar/homework tracking system. Hard part coming from homeschooling (i would assume) is that your time will be less flexible- will be in school set hours/majority of day, THEN practices THEN homework…plan your time accordingly…

Basketball season will likely be the “worst” part for you…lots of games with some potential late nights and in our area- its a winter sport so likely time for colds/flu. Consider talking to your employer and/or youth group NOW about potentially reduced hours in that time period if you are wanting to stay in those…

And keep in mind- life may throw you curve balls this year- being willing to drop something may end up being necessary. For instance, my D20 just finished junior year, with similar course/work loads that you had. But she got pneumonia and spent a week in the hospital (missed two weeks of school total)…It was a struggle to get the grades she wanted, and very stressful…it just is how life happens sometimes. GOOD LUCK!!