Sophomore Year: Time for Positive Changes

The first week of sophomore year was a breeze. I met my brilliant teachers that enthusiastically emphasized the exciting aspects of the curriculum and expectations. I was definitely intrigued and optimistic in my outlook toward the school year despite the obvious challenges I would face.

However, the second week of school was when reality struck. Oh no! - 20 page pre-assessment packet for AP Biology, a summer reading quiz for AP World History, an essay for English, a test for Algebra 2/Trigonometry, a physics quiz and the list goes on. 

It became quite hectic, yet my optimistic viewpoint never changed. Despite all the chaos, I was able to combat stress, maintain a healthy lifestyle, a positive mindset, manage my time, and aspire towards various opportunities.

Since the beginning of this school year it’s been quite challenging to adjust to the larger course load. What proved to be even more stressful was creating weekly homework schedules and being a first doubles player on the tennis team. I also joined a volunteering group called the teen task force - an organization where we organized and lead our own volunteering events. In addition, I had to consistently practice for my vocal performances and weekly lessons.

Throughout the school year I had various singing concerts and charity event performances that I needed to prepare for. Meanwhile, I also prioritized studying for exams and completing interminable assignments. To eliminate my procrastination tendencies, I created an organized system that helped me prosper.

First, I would write down every assignment in a planner. In addition to this, I would plan ahead a week in advance to organize which parts of the assignments I would do and when.  I also made study schedules where I reviewed a bit of every subject every day to retain necessary information earlier on. This was a lot easier than having to cram the information in last minute.

At the beginning, it was tough to follow the schedules I planned out because I’ve always procrastinated - mainly because despite this, I would still get my work done and maintain good grades. However, I realized that while it can be beneficial, it can also be detrimental.

One time, it didn’t work out as planned. I had five tests in one day and a Purim holiday concert the night before that I prepared for all week prior to. It was fun to memorize lines for the role of Queen Esther and a few new Hebrew, Yiddish, and English songs.

In spite of this, it was quite exhausting having to attend every single rehearsal five hours a day for two weeks straight. After all the blood, sweat, and tears, the show was a success! Even though I passed all my tests the next day, I know I could have done a lot better on some of them.

If I managed my time better and studied the material in an organized fashion, I would have seen a tremendous improvement. So I started to follow my plan and saw results almost immediately. 

Another goal I established for myself this year was to be healthier. Initially, I tried to eat a more balanced diet by bringing lunch from home and exercising frequently. Overall, when making these seemingly minor changes, I noticed a drastic effect. I felt less lethargic and more focused in class.

Occasionally though, due to stress I would consume junk food which was not the end of the world. Almost immediately, I gathered my willpower and avoided processed foods and beverages. Thankfully, I was successful with my goal of maintaining a healthier lifestyle. I felt an improvement in my mood as well as comprehension. 

This year was a roller coaster ride with ups and downs; however, the ups outweigh the downs. I feel that the result after all the chaos and hard work really paid off. Now I'm happier, focused, determined, organized and well prepared for my junior year.

This summer I plan to visit some colleges to narrow down my list, prepare for the SAT 1 and SAT 2 and have fun with family and friends. I realized that time is valuable, and you have to figure out ways that work for you in order to achieve all your goals!