"Be faster, Be smarter, Be better than you are."
That's all high school kids hear nowadays. If we're athletes then we have to be faster and tougher and willing to risk our bodies and give up our lives for the chance at a scholarship. If we're in the field of academia then we have to study harder and take extra classes and plan every moment of everyday or else no college will want us. Even if we are neither than we have to find some way to be the best. High school, parents, colleges, and even the teen magazines are telling us how we have to push up our scores, take classes we loathe, and give up any ounce of happiness that high school classes and extracurriculars could possibly offer.
I know kids who freak out because their AP Statistics class caused their semester GPA to drop from a 103 to a 99. Me, I put on the non chalant face while taking two extra classes and secretly stressing over what college might accept me. I live vicariously through the friends that I have who take whatever they want and don't worry about it. I want to be that. But, I'm not so after I finish this entry I will go back to studying for my test in AP Macroeconomics and wishing that junior year would end.
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Life is about working hard and pushing oneself. It may be hard now, but the pay off is worth it in the end.
I wasn't trying to say that hard work isn't necessary I was just saying that the pressure is becoming to much for many kids. Many teens don't get to enjoy their high school experience because they are trying to hard to get into a good school where they will work like crazy to get a good job. But, you are right that hard work will pay off.
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i am who i am, no excuses, but i would like people to know that there is a lot more to me than just that girl they pass in the hallway without a fleeting glance
I feel your pain. I also like the title of this blog -- it's definitely a paradox that many high school students face everyday. It's crazy how competitive teens are today -- and it doesn't help that our mentality keeps telling us to keep pushing ourselves, to keep making ourselves better to achieve what colleges, what teachers, what parents, and what society wants us to achieve. I, however, think that teens today should worry less about the result, and worry more about how we achieve that result. I used to be so high-stress all the time and constantly worry about my grades and my schoolwork. I am very self-critical and judge myself harshly. But this year, junior year, although it is considered to be THE most important year of my high school career, I've decided to let go a little bit and worry less -- and I can say that it's really helped me stay positive, optimistic, and most importantly enjoy the ride. There's seriously no harm in having fun while working hard at the same time. Teens should have a more "work hard, play hard" mentality so that they're priorities don't get so lost -- high school is supposed to be fun as well as challenge you before you go to college (not torture you to no end and work you into the ground..which is how I know a lot of people feel).
So instead of being envious of your friends who do whatever they want, do whatever you want from time to time -- instead of doing things that you have to or must do. I'm not saying to slack off altogether, but just give yourself a break and find a balance.
Good luck with your AP exams!
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"No matter what he does, every person on earth plays a central role in the history of the world. And normally he doesn't know it." -- The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho.
You're very wise. Thanks for the advice
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i am who i am, no excuses, but i would like people to know that there is a lot more to me than just that girl they pass in the hallway without a fleeting glance
i feel your pain. we're picking out scheduals for senior year, and all i hear is my friends talking about how the'r gonna slack off and have senior privlege and art and newspaper and all these BS courses, and how much fun they're gonna have, and then i look at my schedual and somehow i have all AP classes and one elective that i acually wanted to take.