Kids today, now more than ever, are encouraged to take advanced placement classes. They are told that these classes will prepare them for college, look good on college resumes, and boost a person’s GPA. At the same time, students are also persuaded to join clubs, sports, and do community service. This can be overwhelming to students. While AP classes are great, students should be wary of how many they take.

I know students who load up on AP and honors classes, just for the sake of a GPA boost. There are even AP classes in the school that are thought to be only there to raise GPAs. Electives such as AP Art History provide aspiring students with more credits to gain and more GPA points to add. Some students even double up on science and math in their junior year. Students have the option to take two maths in one year. Honors pre-calculus and AP statistics are offered to juniors as math classes. For students looking to take difficult science courses, AP chemistry, honors physics, and AP physics are there to satisfy. Some students choose to take both AP chemistry and physics, for the sole purpose of gaining a GPA boost. I know one student who is currently taking five AP classes and one honors class.

Even though these kids are very intelligent, the toll these classes take on them is noticeable, and drastic. These kids look exhausted, are constantly stressed, and always checking PowerSchool to see if their grade changed. Some students are up all hours of the night to finish all of the asssignments of all of the classes. Part of the student body also quit their after school activities to make room for the increased workload. And for what? A higher GPA?  Colleges will still accept you if you’re not the number one in the class. I hate seeing students constantly holding their head in frustration or confusion, the tired, slumped over walk from class to class as they await the impeding test that will make or break their week.

I recently dropped out of my honors pre calculus class to take the college prep. pre calculus. I was extremely stressed out due to my other AP classes and after school activities. My school life has changed for the better. No longer do I dread going to math every day.

The worst part about all of this is that some of these students seem to not want to take all of these honors classes. It seems to be strictly for GPA boosting, and not a passion for extra classes. I’m sure these kids would rather have a lunch or study hall than an extra science class. On the contrary, I know students who didn’t take all honors courses, and they are much happier than the kids who overload. So, in the end, why do it? Why do these kids never cut themselves a break and focus on their health rather than their grades? My theory is pressure.

Peer pressure gets the buzz nowadays, but what about pressure from adults? In my case, I originally took the honors math course because that’s what I was told to do. I’ve always hated math, but my parents wanted me in the honors classes, so that’s what I did. Honors classes became the norm for me. It gets scary when you think that some students in today’s world don’t see honors classes for what they are worth. Kids today cry over getting a B, but that is still above average. In today’s society, an above average grade isn’t good, only perfection is. AP classes are college level classes, yet high school students are anxious about not receiving an A in a college course. I believe this relates back to my earlier point. Kids today are pressured by their parents to excel in school, but not in ways their child is comfortable. I’ve been lucky that my parents were never too strict about my grades, and have come to understand that a grade such as a C every once in a while is okay. It’s not the end of the world. However, there are parents out there who ask too much of their children. They push their children to their breaking point, and want more. I wish these kids one day stand up to their parents and tell them how stressful all of these honors classes are. These kids don’t deserve this stress, and my sympathy is with them.

Every student should put a limit on how many advanced classes they take. While I will admit a select few of these students can handle the workload of taking a heavy dose of honors classes, the majority cannot. If you are one of these students who overbooked themselves, I hope you take what I say and consider reducing your workload next year. You can still take AP classes, but maybe not as many. From a firsthand perspective, I can tell you that once you do, your life will be much better.