Written by Samantha Reed, Staff Writer
The struggle is real for all the Juniors of class of 2027 establishing their spots on their transcripts for college applications.
Junior year is known across every hallway and classroom as the year that one everyone warns you about. It is the year when students suddenly find themselves trying to balance AP classes, social lives, sports, clubs, jobs, and college pressure all at the same time-usually while running on iced coffee and a half charged chromebook. Whether they are taking one AP or a full schedule, juniors quickly learn that these classes are not just harder versions of the regular courses but rather they demand time, focus, independence, and a whole lot of late night study sessions. Students share a similar mix of exhaustion, determination, and those rare proud moments that remind them their hard work is paying off despite different backgrounds. To get a clearer picture of what AP life actually feels like from the inside, here are some of the class of 2027 to reveal their struggles, habits,and the lessons they are learning along the way.
Balancing AP Chemistry and AP Lang, McKynzie Gates (11) quickly learned how demanding AP coursework can be. She explains, “AP classes are definitely more time consuming and stressful, with more homework, independent learning, and the focus on the structure of the test rather than knowledge on the subject.” Since the start of junior year, she has had to restructure her habits, admitting that “since junior year started [she] have had to prioritize homework and stay on top of my homework and classwork because it’s very difficult to catch up once you have fallen behind” Because of the intensity of these classes, Gates was forced to become better at asking questions and asking for help. When she feels overwhelmed, she grounds herself by focusing on one thing at a time, “I make a list of everything I need to do and focus only on that until it is completed… Listening to music with noise cancellation helps me get distracted less easily.” Her advice for younger students is simple but serious, “stay on top of your work… attend office hours… even if you feel confident.”
Taking AP English Language and Composition, AP Calculus AB, and AP Physics 1, Olivia Maciel (11) has found herself most challenged by physics. She admits, “AP Physics surprised me the most because I was not ready for the rigor and how much abstract understanding is needed to get the concepts.” To stay afloat, she works in a small burst of productivity, explaining, “I do a little bit at a time and every time I feel stressed, I do one assignment… I tend to get in a rhythm and a motivated mindset to just keep going.” Her strategy is simple: do not get up until the work is done. “I typically don’t get out of my chair until I’ve finished all my assignments, or I’ve done the majority of them and deemed myself worthy for a break.” She believes AP courses are misunderstood, as she thinks that the intense rigor forced upon students with assignments helps create a better understanding for the material. Her most unforgettable AP moment so far was early on: “I’ll never forget the first AP Physics Unit test (Unit 0) because that set the tone for how this class was gonna be.”
Maya Moran (11) takes AP Chemistry, AP Calculus AB, and AP Lang, and she finds calculus the toughest of them all. She explains, “AP Calc challenges me the most because it’s a really hard class and a lot of the concepts can be hard to understand. Little mistakes can affect your answer.” Her strategy is consistency. “I try to do my homework when I get home from school so I don’t need to stay up too late. I get my homework done before I go to an event.” Morning study time has also become an essential for Maya as she said, “studying for tests and utilizing time in the morning to study has helped me succeed.” One accomplishment she’s proud of is her growth in AP Lang, “I felt proud of myself when I improved in my essays in Mrs. Yeyna’s class.”
With AP Calculus BC, AP Lang, AP U.S. History, AP Art History, and AP Spanish Lang, plus two sports and nine clubs, Lyle Weems (11) has one of the busiest schedules on campus. She usually studies at home, explaining, “I study at home in my room, and I try to stay focused by keeping my phone away from me and keeping my desk really clean. [When] worst comes to worst I work laying on the floor.” Free time is rare for her as she said, “I’m in 6 classes, two sports, and nine clubs, so honestly I just don’t have a social life.” Even with the chaos, she has discovered her academic passion, sharing, “I adore art history and individual study. I definitely want to go into the humanities and do work that has to do with research.” She ends by admitting, “Honestly I don’t really have habits because my schedule is so undefined and changes from day to day.”
Armando Mendez (11) is enrolled in AP Lang, AP Chemistry, AP Physics 1, and AP Calculus AB, and he finds physics to be his most difficult class. He explains, “I find AP Physics 1 to be the most challenging for due to the large amount of independent responsibility required for the course… I often face difficulties when trying to stay on task.” Although he does not participate in many activities outside of music, academics still dominate his schedule. “I really devote almost all of my time to academics and my grades… it does get difficult occasionally when some clubs I am in start having events.” His strongest habit is perseverance, sharing, “I push through until I finish. I miss out on some sleep but it ends up being worth it.” He says he has not had a singular proud moment yet but hopes that his dedication will be reflected in his final and AP exams.
Furthermore, Setareh Heidari (11) is taking AP Psychology, AP Lang, APUSH, and AP Chemistry, and she splits her study time between home and cafes. She explains, “I study at an aesthetic coffee shop usually or in my room, and I stay focused during long AP homework nights by turning off my phone.” Her biggest personal struggle has been time management, sharing that “the hardest part is procrastinating work and time management.” Despite the heavy course load, her college goals remain steady. “I still [want] to go [be] a biomedical major.” Looking back, she wishes she had learned to manage her time better and find an efficient way to study sooner.
Taking AP Lang and APUSH, Allurbella has experienced a big shift in workload this year. She states, “my daily schedule has changed a lot due to the intensity change of the work. It is so much more tedious and time consuming.” Adjusting to the time commitment has been her biggest hurdle as she shares that“the biggest adjustment [she] has had to make was the amount of time I put into homework. I need more time to complete it now.” When stress hits, she resets by grounding herself, adding that it helps her “to take a deep breath and start where [she] knows [she] can succeed and go with the flow.” Her advice for future AP students is clear, “Do not procrastinate!!… Be nice to yourself because you are a person too.”
Even though junior year is known for being incredibly challenging, hearing from all these students shows that it is also a year filled with growth. Everyone handles the workload differently and everyone struggles in their own way, but they also find routines that help them stay focused and proud of what they accomplish. These AP classes push students to work harder, think deeper, and learn what kind of study habits actually work for them. It is not an easy year, but it is a year that teaches responsibility, confidence, and how to keep going even when things feel overwhelming. In the end, all of their experiences show that the class of 2027 is next in line to learn how to handle challenges and come out stronger because of them.