Junior Girls’ Guide To Thriving in High School
BY NEHIR TOPALOGLU
In the American school system, junior year of high school is often characterized as the most challenging time in a student’s career. Students are under immense pressure to succeed as they try to maintain their challenging courseloads, take standardized tests, and preserve a healthy social life in the midst of it all. But with the right organizational methods, students can lighten the weight of the high school experience as a whole.
As juniors in high school ourselves, my friends and I have made our lives easier by forming strong habits. Below is our guide to maintaining the best version of yourself throughout these four years.
1. Plan it out.
Spiral Academic Year Planner. Papier
The best way to streamline your hectic life is to write down your activities, events, assignments, etc. Seeing everything that you are expected to do and how they overlap allows you to stay on task and be realistic - after all, there are only 24 hours in a day.
School template. Notion
I am a traditionalist when it comes to this, so I love updating my paper planner on the daily. Physically writing down my deadlines keeps me on top of things, while checking off tasks makes me happy and motivates me to be even more productive. If you still want the satisfaction of checking off tasks but prefer a digital format, Notion is the perfect organizational tool for you. Sofie Geyer, a junior at Newton North High School, explains, “Notion is such a lifesaver! I love that I can access my to-do list from both my phone and computer. Any assignment I get, I immediately put it in Notion with the due date and color coordinate it based on what class it is for.”
Tatte on Summer St. Boston Magazine
2. Find your study spot.
Aside from home, you should find a space in your local community that aids your productivity. Local coffee shops are always safe bets. Other Boston-area residents will agree when I say that Tatte is the number one spot for studying alone or with friends. Ambre Van De Velde, another junior at Newton North High School, says, “Tatte does get a little overcrowded at times, but they … offer great food and drinks. It’s a good place to go to for studying or if you just want to have a chill lunch with a friend.” Libraries are also a perfect choice. My friends and I go to our city’s public library all the time. Aside from housing extensive book collections, libraries offer other services; during my high school’s finals week, our library hosted study sessions in which they offered free snacks, stationery supplies, and dinner along with a later closing time just for students.
3. Practice and review.
Understanding and retaining class material is likely the toughest skill to learn throughout high school, but there are so many resources to help. Khan Academy is effective and popular, with an extensive collection of video lessons and practice quizzes covering a wide range of subjects. Their partnership with the College Board makes the website a great tool for anyone taking the SAT or AP classes. Junior Dea Pance explains, “By practicing daily on Khan Academy, I was able to see a significant increase in my SAT score. I also use the website when I need to review for tests. I’m actually planning on using the resource to study for my upcoming AP U.S. History test.”
List of courses offered on Khan Academy. Khan Academy
4. Set time aside for “absolute rest.”
High school is one of the busiest, craziest times of one’s life. With that in mind, it is crucial to set aside a portion of your time each week for activities that bring you genuine joy and relaxation. Throughout my high school experience, my father has always harped on giving oneself moments of “absolute rest” in which you do nothing but relax and unwind in whatever manner you want. My favorite “absolute rest” activity is to lay in my bed with music playing through my headphones and draw, scroll on Pinterest, or read a book.
While high school can often seem like a never-ending series of challenges, it is only four short years of the life in front of you. So pursue your goals but understand how to do so in a healthy way; being the best version of yourself is not just material, but mental as well.
