By Christina Chipman

As junior year progresses, so does the responsibilities and workload. Photo by: Matthew Libersky

Being a junior in high school entails more than abundant amounts of homework and responsibility. It is a milestone for many students, as reality is often presented with expectations, college and following one’s internal compass.

Two years down, two more years to go. As the countdown begins to senior year, many juniors are plagued with the obstacles this year presents.  Classes seem defeating, responsibilities are overbearing, and preparations for the future are beginning to take hold. And it does not seem to get easier. As junior year begins to unfold its uncertainties, the detrimental toll is weighing down on Gaby Ramirez’s shoulders. Ramirez has found this year to be “extremely challenging with the sports I am involved with and the homework.” Health careers, pre-calculus, and chemistry are merely just the beginning of Ramirez’s workload, as “cross country, track, and too many clubs” bide Ramirez’s time. Ramirez describes, “ Homework, grades, sports, work, family, and friends are all thrown at you at once.” Through the seemingly impossible endeavors, Ramirez’s has a mindset for the future. Ramirez is unsure of where she will attending college but becoming an “OBGYN or a physician’s assistant” is a long term goal that guides Ramirez through class scheduling and university visits.
Ramirez is not the only upperclassman experiencing the rigorous intensity of academics and extra-curricular activities. Immersed in academic classes to prepare her for post-secondary education and college preparatory exams, Kendall Cooper is “overwhelmed with all that I need to get done, but I enjoy the challenges thrown at me!” Cooper, outside of the classroom setting, is a member of Crimson Connection,  FTA,  S.E.E.D. Club and is also a varsity cheerleader. Despite the difficulty of the classes she is taking and the numerous activities she is involved with, Cooper remains optimistic. She explains, “ They [teachers] throw a lot at you but you have to take it one step at a time.” With only one step left until senior year, Cooper is ready for the future, and whatever it may bring. She states, “ I plan on taking the SAT’s and the ACT’s in the spring so I have more time to prepare.” After the “last step” in high school, Cooper plans to attend “Ball State University and major in interior design or elementary education.”
With ambitions in mind, Kelly Bryant has taken the steps in the right direction in preparing for her future. Bryant states, “The pressure and workload is definitely harder this year. On top of harder courses, the pressure of already preparing so much for college is overwhelming. We have so many important decisions to make for our future and I’m not quite ready for all of it.” Bryant, however, is not alone. Patrick Felke’s workload consisting of “difficult honors” classes is time consuming, but Felke’s ambitions to attend Notre Dame, Butler, or Indiana University require exemplary grades. Being a junior in high school can be defeating, but also rewarding. Bryant advises, “ Work hard now, and it will all pay off later.” Aubrie Craft, who is taking on the challenges of this year with a light heart and positive attitude describes, “ Homework is piled everyday. Things are getting harder, but it’s time to prepare ourselves for college level.”
As the 2010-2011 school year progresses, so does the difficulty of the courses and the stresses of day to day life. Junior year, however, is a year that defines the future, and what it has to hold. Despite the challenging curriculum, the juniors are bestowing themselves with a year of memories and learning that will carry with them throughout their lives.