Editor #3
I know exactly how you feel. It can be exhausting keeping up with the loads of work teachers place on you. Sometimes it’s all you can do to keep from screaming, throwing things and just saying “forget this.” Keep doing what you are doing, and remember that you are only in high school. Yes, these four years will affect the rest of your life, but that does not mean you should not have fun and cut loose every now and then. I am ranked third in my class, so I know the feeling of intense pressure to do well, as both of my parents, much of my family and the majority of their friends are educators.
The homework load may feel unbearable, and you may lose valuable sleeping time, but do not lose sight of whatever it is you want to be or do after you graduate. Create a visual or written reminder of your goal and post it in a place you will see often, such as above your bed, on your bedroom door, on your closet door or on your fridge. When you are feeling down and unmotivated, these words of encouragement will remind you why you want to succeed. Four years is a relatively short period of time compared to the rest of your life. Think about it this way—as a sophomore, you are already almost halfway through!
You will get the hang of sophomore year soon. For some people, freshman year feels awkward and uncomfortable until second semester, when they have had time to get used to the high school atmosphere. Sophomore year is also an awkward time because you are not quite an upperclassman, but there is also a big difference between you and the freshmen. Just remember that there are so many great things to look forward to, such as prom and graduation; this one horrid year will definitely be worth it.