Overcoming the Challenges of Sophomore Year: A Reflection on Academic Stress and Personal Growth
As I reflect on my second year of high school, I realize how challenging and overwhelming it has been. While I genuinely enjoyed participating in extracurricular activities, managing my academic workload proved to be a significant hurdle. This year marked a stark contrast to my freshman year, during which I comfortably achieved A- and A grades.
Admittedly, my course selection contributed to the difficulty—opting for honors and AP classes such as Honors English 10 and AP Psychology certainly pushed me beyond my comfort zone. However, the sheer volume of assignments and expectations has sometimes made it hard to stay on top of everything. I’ve noticed a decline in my performance, especially in STEM subjects, which is disappointing because I used to excel in these areas.
The burnout wasn’t solely caused by the two AP courses I’m enrolled in—AP U.S. History and AP Psychology—but more by the demanding honors classes. I’ve always been considered bright, but now I often feel unmotivated, procrastinate excessively, and struggle with a sense of stagnation. This is partly due to distractions like aimless scrolling online, but I also believe that the high school workload is often unrealistic and exhausting.
Despite maintaining a weighted GPA of 4.2, recent setbacks have taken a toll. Falling ill for a week in March disrupted my fragile routine, and since then, I’ve been battling to regain my rhythm. Between coursework, track practice, and personal issues like writer’s block, I feel drained and overwhelmed. My recent efforts have been focused on preparing for upcoming AP exams, establishing healthier habits like sleeping earlier, and trying to stay afloat.
However, I still have unfinished work—projects, upcoming finals, and grades to improve—and I often find myself with little energy left. The mental fatigue has led to frustration, and sometimes I feel disconnected from everyone around me.
Looking ahead, I’ve planned my course load for next year: AP Government, AP Environmental Science, AP Language,College Prep courses, Pre-Calculus, Art III, and possibly Honors Spanish IV, along with a study hall. While this schedule may be slightly more manageable, I can’t help but feel apprehensive about facing another year of intense academic pressure.
Ultimately, I yearn for a return to a sense of freedom and balance—an environment where I can grow without feeling crushed under the weight of responsibilities. It’s a difficult journey, but recognizing these challenges is the first step