Are you stressed? When I say stressed, I don’t mean relatively stressed about a test, I mean chronically stressed. Is there one class that is on your mind 24/7?
Trust me, I understand you. I am now a senior and ex “Anything for the A” type of person. I was until I got my first B as that was when I realized “Oh, I got a B and I’m still alive and will still get into college.”
If you want to challenge yourself and still keep the AP, that’s fine. But it’s also fine to not take an AP/honors level class if it will make you happier.
“I chose not to take AP English junior year because even though I felt pressure from friends to take it, I knew honors was a better fit for me and my schedule,” senior Alex Ravden said. “After finishing junior year, I was able to balance all my commitments while being able to have a happy mental state and I do not regret this decision.”
It all depends on what is right for you, and if that means taking the AP/honors that is good.
“Right now, I am taking AP stats. It makes me feel really stressed out because it is AP level,” Ravden said. “This means there is a lot of homework and my teacher holds us to a high standard.”
It is important to keep an open mind and not partake in the “must get an A” attitude.
“I was thinking about going to regular stats but because the expectation of college is that you are continuing to challenge yourself, I am keeping it. I’ve learned that putting pressure on myself to get an A is not healthy and I am comfortable challenging myself knowing I probably am not going to get an A.”
It is not the worst thing in the world to drop a class either. School accomplishments are no reflection on you or your capabilities.
“When I was a junior, I started the year with Chinese 3. I was really bad at it and it made me miserable,” an Oak Park High School Alumni who requested to be anonymous said. “Because of this, I ended up dropping out 2 weeks into the year. I don’t regret it one bit, it made me so much less stressed junior year.”
Sometimes, it is not about the class itself. For some, it can be about seeing a certain teacher we connect with.
“I love Mrs. Hankins. She is so sweet and I have always really connected with her. This was a big reason I took honors English instead of AP English,” alumni Izzy Ravden said. “I was able to grow a relationship with her even through distance learning, and she ended up writing my letter of recommendation and I TA’d for her senior year”
Another great program some students utilize is Oak Park Independent School. OPIS is a program that allows students to take up to two classes at OPHS and the rest of their classes independently motivated and still playing sports and attending OPHS activities.
“I’m a senior this year and last year I did full time in person school,” senior Emily Rychlik said. “My junior year was really hard and I was stressed about school most nights. I wanted to be able to have more time to spend with my friends and do my hobbies, so I decided to switch to OPIS. I take two OPHS classes and three OPIS classes now. I am so happy mentally and I have time to do everything I love.”
I have a really similar schedule to Emily and I agree. I take Journalism ll and I TA for one of my favorite teachers at OPHS. My other classes are all at OPIS and I am able to do them on my own timeline which works well for my learning style.
I have been plagued in the past by thinking about school 24/7. I choose to do this OPIS schedule because I believe a part of general happiness is the choices you make for yourself. So, if you are reading this while chronically school-stressed, change your mindset or your schedule. You possess the power to rearrange your life for balance. Remember, no matter how much others advise you of a choice, choose the one that will make you happy.
