I can’t tell you how many times I’m told the words, “junior year is the most important year, you better study hard!” and frankly, I’m quite tired of hearing them. The pressure to maintain high marks, excel in history day, and complete a research paper on a book over 400 pages long is rather overwhelming. Junior year is not even halfway finished and most of us are already exceeding the maximum stress level a teenager should have to suffer through. To the underclassmen, I won’t sugar coat it for you – junior year isn’t exactly what you would call easy. Some days you’ll feel tempted to just stick your face in a pillow and scream. I suggest doing it, it’s a stress reliever! However, with all the chaos of eleventh grade and the taunting question “will I survive it?!” we lose sight of the bright side and all the benefits this year has to offer.

Take a look back on your high school experience already, everyone. Look at all the friends you’ve made and all the memories you already share. Junior year is a time for a new beginning almost, as young ladies. Yes, we are officially young ladies of Padua Academy. We wear maroon sweaters and socks to prove it. We’ve matured and grown as individuals. Junior year is where we find out who we are. We are now upperclassmen, carrying a new-found responsibility as leaders (and as licensed drivers!) of our school. This is a year for opportunity and countless possibilities, where we’ll start thinking about our future, college,and what we want to be when we grow up. Even though we’re all tired of hearing how important our junior year is…it’s the truth. Not only will our decisions this year affect us in the present, but also in the future.  Are you deciding whether or not you feel like filling out Mr. Potter’s US History map? Don’t risk it, just do it. Put your full potential into this year because you will receive great things out of it.

You have a bright future ahead of you; it depends on your drive, how badly you want it. Though it may be tough, keep a positive perspective and simply do the best you can. You will survive history day, the research paper, college visits, and you will survive junior year, I promise. But don’t wish it away too quickly! High school should be some of the best years of your life, so enjoy your time here. You’ll be off to college in the blink of an eye. So next time you’re feeling overwhelmed about the school year, remember, we’re all in this together. The girls of 2013, you are my sisters. I’ve noticed a dramatic change in our class in only two years; we’ve all grown up so much. We’ve grown through our responsibility, our faith, and our sisterhood. I have faith in you girls. We can, and will, survive this chaotic junior year, leaving our teachers with dropped jaws at how we totally owned history day.