school school school school school

This is a stupid question, but did you ever feel really, really, really stressed out? And I mean to the breaking point. No, this is not another teenage girls like-oh-my-god-my-life-totally-sucks rant. So just listen and bear with me.

I, along with Lauren & Mia, am a high school junior at the High School of Fashion Industries in New York City. Doesnt it seem so ideal: taking the subway to Manhattan everyday, seeing the buildings and places that people only dream of? Sure, until its in the dead of winter and commuting is as exciting as watching your grandpa sleep on the couch. You tell all your friends you go to a school with a "major", its just like college! Sure, until its your sophomore year and you have a 1-9 schedule.

Over this past summer, I was excited for my junior year - the last real year of high school before college applications and SAT's. I was happy to start AP US History, something I'd been looking foward to since freshman year. September and October was fine, easy, a breeze - whatever you want to call it; and then November hit. It was alright in the beggining, then about 4 weeks ago school life came crashing down - hard. Essays, tests, report cards, projects, homework. It seemed neverending. I pulled my first all nighter about a month ago to write an APUSH essay. I was never a student who struggled with work, in fact, A's came easily for me. I was never challenged in school, and that still rings true today. The problem that I had, however, was the pressure to do well and rise above peers in almost every single aspect of my life - not just academically.

I've started my college search early, and I've narrowed down my list to about 6 schools. My top choice will be Boston University, which requires honors and AP classes along with at least an 1800 on the SAT. Thats just academics. What they also look for is community service and extracurricular activities - in and out of school. They look for the most unique and selfless people in the country. When I say "they", I mean practically every university and college in the world. The pressure thats put on high school students today to succeed in life is terribly strong. Is it not enough that we strive (or have) straight A's, study our asses off for the SAT (as well as every other test), and that we're good people? Is it okay for colleges and universities to practically force us to do community service? Doesn't that take away the warm and fuzzy feeling you get after you've helped someone? I've always been an advocate of community service, and participated in it in junior high, but I've realized that I just dont have the time or energy right now to do community service. Now, I feel like I'm being forced, and I automatically feel negativity towards community service. No one likes to be forced into things! If I'm stressing about things like this, what are other people feeling? Me, the most optimistic person you could ever meet; the girl who has been called a geek her whole life. I'm the one stressing out. What about those who dont have grades like me? Not even grades, what about a great homelife like me? How do they find the time to stress out about school? I know people whose parents just plain suck. They have to take care of their siblings and the house, some of them have afterschool jobs. How will they find the time to do homework? Study for the SAT? Fill out college applications? Do community service? Take Advanced Placement and Honors classes? Do colleges not take any of this into consideration? Its a question that cant be answered.

I feel that, no matter how stressed out you feel (in school, especially), dont let it get to you. Yeah, I know that sounds so cliche. But seriously, if you let stress get to you emotionally, it will get worse. Just the other night i was freaking out about my report card. I almost broke down and cried because everything fell upon me like a tidal wave. I had been hiding my stress, and instead of dealing with it i let it build up. De-stressing is important; listening to music, reading a book, watching a movie. As I sit here and write this, I'm watching Superbad. Even talking with a family member or a friend about whats going on helps - and believe me, their more than willing to listen. Chances are they've gone or are going through the same exact thing.

I'm not just speaking for myself, but I'm speaking for Lauren, for Mia, for all my other friends who are going through the same thing.

And you know what? That report card I was telling you about? - all A's and two B+'s.

-Chelsea