by: Saanvi Sajja
High school is unlike any other school such as elementary or middle school and this is because now students gain the freedom to take the classes they want. In high school, you obviously have certain classes you need to take in order to graduate, but in those requirements, you as a student are able to choose which level fits you best. These levels of learning range from on-level to college-level courses. It's important to remember that each student is different and that no matter what classes you take, it doesn’t determine your intelligence. Just because a person decides to take like 17 APS doesn’t mean that everyone should in order to succeed. Know what level of learning is right for you and proceed with it all through High School.
While you should take classes that are right for you, it's also important to take courses that challenge you. Colleges want to see how you strive in high school by facing problems and finding solutions. This allows colleges to make their decision when choosing people who are mature and fit for them. Say you take about three on-level courses, two advanced courses, and one AP for your first year in high school. As challenging as that one AP course is, you have to work hard and put in the effort to get the grade you need. Not only are you challenging yourself, but you're also showing others that you put in the effort to succeed in that challenging course.
Here are some important things to consider when choosing your courses:
Is this class too easy or too hard? Don’t take classes that are too easy or too hard. If you take the easiest classes, it doesn't show that you're putting in any work into that class. It’s an easy A and might raise your GPA, but it also shows that you like the easy way out. At the same time don’t take classes that are too hard. Say you take AP Chemistry and one month into it you don’t understand anything and are completely lost, don't hesitate to get to talk to your counselors to drop the course to a less hard level. It's okay because as much as you need to challenge yourself, it's also important to know that if you take a class that is too hard, it will end up hurting your GPA.
Don’t give up: I did say that it was okay to drop a class once in a while if it's too challenging, but that doesn’t mean to drop it two weeks in because you get one bad grade in a quiz. The grade you get is the grade you worked for. So if you get a 40 smth on that first quiz, ask yourself if you did all the things you could do to get a good grade? If the answer is known then begin working harder and studying more.
Use your resources: Ask teachers, other students, and even siblings to determine what classes you need to take. Teachers have the knowledge about the course work, so don't hesitate to ask teachers or even counselors about each class. DOn’t run away if they say it's hard. Know what the class is about and see if you would genuinely be interested in it. Students also have the knowledge of how each class works once they’ve taken it, especially upper-classmen.
At the end of the day, high school is just the beginning of your entire life. One bad grade doesn't ruin you. Don’t take like 15 APS and make your life harder. Take a step back and live in the moment. High school isn't forever so enjoy it and make as many memories as you can before you are thrown out into the “real” world.