For most students, the school year is a big challenge. Many students face academic pressure regarding grades, activities and getting into colleges on top of the hard classes many take. There are also many other factors that play into a student’s well being, such as parental and peer pressures. No matter what, the question is always, “Am I doing enough?” With AP tests and the rush to finish content, students feel more overwhelmed than ever closing off the year.

As a highly-ranked school system, Grosse Pointe Public Schools holds challenging standards for students regarding their education and involvement in school. The overlying pressure of doing well is multiplied in this school district, and while I don’t necessarily think it’s a bad thing, students need to be taught on how to adapt to these standards so there isn’t a constant feeling of stress and anxiety.

For many, the biggest issue with stress is the difficult classes piled up on their schedule. Taking 5 AP and honors classes itself is a hard feat, especially when someone is a student athlete and involved in many activities. The biggest challenge is finding one’s limits–the balance between having a challenging schedule and one that is impossible to handle. While many face pressure from friends and family to live up to certain expectations, it’s never worth it to have a terrible school year just to say you took a certain class.

Procrastination is also a big struggle for many—myself included. With AP tests coming very soon, many students have just started studying and have a sharp deadline. The biggest tip is to never wait until the last minute to do something, no matter how small it is. Start that project, read that book and begin studying as soon as you can. Unnecessary stress is added to students’ workload when they procrastinate, especially during AP season with tensions higher than ever. Staying focused and getting an early start on studying will never hurt your grades, and will more than likely improve emotional well-being during the times of intense stress and anxiety.