When it comes to high school, freshmen year may not be the only year students have to worry about. Although freshmen year is the first year in a new place, with new people and new experiences, every grade has something to overcome. But now that juniors have survived freshmen and sophomore year, what comes next?
Mrs. Judy Hoover said juniors should mainly focus on good grades this year because these are the grades that colleges will look at the most. She also said the college search shouldn’t be put off until senior year.
“As juniors, their biggest concern should be their future,” she said.
Senior Spencer Aldridge agrees. Aldridge said with senior year being so busy, juniors shouldn’t overlook college.
“They should definitely start looking for colleges now because there is no time as a senior,” he said.
Senior Ashley Nagy agrees that senior year can be too busy to be looking at colleges. She started her college search early, but she also said she felt junior year was just as hectic.
“I felt like the class load was heavy,” she said. “Teachers expected a lot, and it was a big jump from sophomore year.”
Although junior year may seem tough, junior Zach Woods said it has its benefits.
“I think [junior year] is a big relief from last year because sophomore year was hard,” he said. “As a junior, you don’t have to worry about the OGT and the work load already seems lighter.”
According to an article written by Randall S. Hansen, the founder of Quintessential Careers, junior year is one of the most important years of high school. Hansen said this is the year many college and career decisions are made. Although this may seem a bit scary, Hansen said the main importance should be good grades.
Nagy and Aldridge both agreed and said good grades are what make or break junior year.
“Make sure you do your homework. Don’t blow off junior year,” Aldridge said. “It’s important.”
Nagy said she thinks her biggest mistake last year was not making the most of her junior year. She said she didn’t see junior year as important, and that she regrets it.
“I just wanted to be a senior and get it all over with,” she said. “I now realize that my junior year was just as important.”
Hansen’s article also states that college planning is the key in making junior year easier. Although many students may associate college planning with senior year, Hansen said one should already have college choices narrowed down once senior year hits.
Hoover said she thinks juniors don’t think ahead. She said procrastinating and not taking things seriously are a few things that become habitual for juniors.
“I don’t think [juniors] prepare themselves well enough for college,” she said. “Not planning ahead will make their senior year miserable.”
Although the focus should mainly be on grades and college, Nagy said finding friends is also important.
“Making good friends that you can rely on for homework and just life in general makes things easier,” she said.
For junior Angela Reighard this was no problem.
“As a junior, you meet more people and become more involved,” she said. “[Junior year] is also a lot easier with friends. And plus, you already know the works of high school.”
Woods agrees and said he thinks junior year will be a lot easier than the past years. He also said he feels junior year is still important.
“We can’t forget that we are only juniors,” he said. “We only have one more year.