Isabelle Herde
Reporter
When I was getting ready to come to the high school there was a myth my older sister told me: the same architect who designs prisons designed the school. She told me she didn’t believe it until her junior year.
“When school first started, I didn’t think junior year would be as bad as people say, but within the first month I realized that they were right,” junior Molly Joyce said.
Seniors are posting their college acceptances on Facebook as juniors refresh Naviance for the thousandth time, checking their odds of getting into the college of their dreams. “I’m going to Hobart and William Smith College and initially I was working hard, but after winter break I definitely didn’t try as much,” senior Alex Vernon said.
Unlike Alex, Molly still has a lot of work ahead of her. “I have started touring schools and now I have to start talking about getting recommendations from teachers and visiting the twenty or so schools I want to see,” Molly said.
Other juniors aren’t feeling as stressed with more definitive plans ahead of them. “I’ve started looking at schools and I’m pretty set on where I want to go,” junior Peter Baran said. “I don’t mind junior year.”
According to students, most of the stress that juniors face regards the college decision. As seniors said, when that stress goes away a lot of motivation goes away as well. “It was definitely a stressful time looking at schools,” Alex said. “But now, as a senior, I’m not worrying about school as much, so I’m having more fun.”
However, many still have to deal with college pressures. “I am worried because my parents overestimate my ability to get in, although my guidance counselor is more realistic,” Molly said. “I’m just pessimistic about it all.”
Even homework loads change for seniors as teachers become more lenient. “I have practically no stress compared to junior year,” senior Patrick Redman said. “Last year I’d have two or three hours of homework each night and now, on a bad night, I’ll have maybe 45 minutes.”
Meanwhile juniors find themselves lucky to have any free time. “My free time depends on the day, usually I have about 30 minutes to an hour,” junior Annie Conover said.
Junior year is also when students realize they have to start preparing for college. “Junior year is just more difficult because I’m trying to challenge myself more to prepare for college,” Molly said.
Extra-curriculars become more important for juniors as well. It’s the time of year when juniors really push for those leadership positions they’ve been salivating over for three years. “There are definitely spots in my extra-curriculars that I want to have a leadership position in for next year,” said Molly.
Annie agreed. “I’m stepping up in what I’m involved with.”
Juniors also face the challenge of managing their workload and dealing with their stress. “It’s pretty stressful because I can’t really balance all my different classes with my extra-curriculars,” Annie said.
Many students try to achieve this balance by doing the things they enjoy in their free time.“You have to have outlets. You can’t be all about school, you have to have fun on the weekends,” Molly said. “I watch Mad Men and I try to do fun stuff like shopping.”
“It’s a work hard, play hard type of year, and when I say work hard I mean work really hard,” said Annie.
Second semester for seniors opens the doors to spring, prom and graduation. “It’s bittersweet,” Alex said. “I’m excited for the college experience. I’m anxious though I’ve been at New Canaan High School for four years. It’s what I’m used to.”
“I have mixed emotions,” Patrick said. “I’m happy to experience something new and go out into the world. But I’m definitely going to miss New Canaan High School and my friends.”
“Now that AP testing is over I feel more confident about what’s coming next,” Molly said. “Pretty soon the class of 2013 will be college bound, freaky thought.”
