The Unknown of Becoming a Senior

There is a major realization that many high school students have at some point during their educational career. It coincidentally appears in all students at the same time, roughly two weeks into Grade 11. The awareness sets in that Grade 11 is, in fact, way harder than Grade 10, and the future of the difficult uncertainty unfolding in front of us remains to be seen. It’s hard to say exactly why this collective perception exists, as a jump from a sophomore to a junior, midway through high school, doesn’t seem like it should warrant such a difference in difficulty, but there are a lot of variables that make this realization true. It may be because of the introduction of more AP classes, where these fast-paced courses can catch students unprepared. It may be because of the added responsibility that comes with being a senior student. It may be because it’s an important year for universities that will eventually look at Grade 11 grades, and the work being covered is more advanced the closer a student gets to post-secondary school. Many people, including me, experience this shift full on. “I know that Grade 11 is indeed harder than Grade 10 because of the workload, and there’s not a lot of time to get things done,” says Alex S, Whittall ‘20. As well, I was more overwhelmed with schoolwork then I ever have been in the past. So, I write this partially as confirmation, and partially as a warning to any up-and-comers finishing Grade 10 this month. The waters ahead are not all smooth sailing like they might have previously been: it’s time to buckle down. Jack P, Whittall ‘20