Surviving SMA: Making the Most of Your Four Years: October 2012

Sunday, October 21, 2012

Just Because You're Not In Honors Or AP, Doesn't Mean You're Stupid

If you are feeling stupid because you're not taking an honors class, AP class, or both, DOES NOT MEAN YOU ARE STUPID OR ANY LESS OF A PERSON. It does not mean your don't challenge yourself and are just a slacker. You go to an academically rigorous, all girls, college prep school, that's a challenge in itself. It may seem like everyone around you are taking all of these crazy, hard classes, but that's not the case. I (Britney), have never taken an Honors or AP class. It also may seem like the only way you're going to get into college is by taking these classes, but again, that's not the case. If you're like me and regular courses are already a challenge for you, why make your life worse and possibly take on more than you can handle? Not saying that you shouldn't challenge yourself in life, but high school isn't just about sitting at home on weekends and trying to finish AP Calc homework. High school is about making new friends, experiencing and learning new things, and some school in the mix(; Now I'm not bashing on those people who spend every night doing homework, but in my mind, there's more than getting strait A's in life.

Throughout my Sophomore and Junior year, I struggled accepting that I wasn't stupid because I wasn't taking higher level courses. I am currently in an Algebra 2 class with mostly Sophomores and a few Freshmen and Juniors. There is one other Senior. I am comfortable with this because I know that I'm going at my own pace. From the beginning, I told myself that I don't want to become that St. Mary's girl that has no life. I don't want to be at home every weekend. I want to go out with friends, have fun, and get my mind off of school. I try to take at least an hour or two every night to watch TV, go to the gym, or hang out with a friend. Even though this creates additional stress, it makes me happier, which I think is more important than getting 100% on a homework assignment. So pretty much what I'm getting at is that it's a good idea to have balance in your school and social life.

To sum this up, you are who you are. Do what you need to do to succeed. Don't take courses that are going to push you overboard. Just try your best and you'll be happy with whatever comes(:

Dealing with Depression

Depression is one aspect in life that many people go through. You may not know it, but so many people around you have either experienced it, are going through it, or will experience it. You never know who might be on the verge of suicide or hurting themselves, so keep that in mind next time you say or do something hurtful to someone. Also, the ones you least expect could be the most unhappy. Just because they're "popular" doesn't mean they aren't putting on a fake front and actually wanting to end their life. This should not be a "hush hush" subject! Please, if you are in need of help, tell someone. And always remember, YOU ARE NOT ALONE.

I know it is an extremely sensitive topic to talk about, but know that there are always people to talk to. Between parents, family members, close neighbors, friends, teachers, SMA counselors, or counselors outside of SMA, you have numerous people who are willing to just sit down and listen.

Links
SMA counselors:
http://www.stmaryspdx.org/student_life/counseling

Self-help Tips/General Info:
http://www.helpguide.org/mental/depression_tips.htm
http://www.anxietyandstress.com/copingwithdepression.html
http://lifeoptions.org/catalog/pdfs/teaching/Depression.pdf
http://www.halfofus.com/

Support someone you know dealing with depression: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/01/06/dealing-with-depression-9-ways_n_804940.html#s219504&title=Stay_In_Contact

Hotlines:
http://suicidehotlines.com/national.html
http://www.suicidehotlines.com/oregon.html
http://www.suicidehotlines.com/washington.html

Videos:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7ghwPVVocrI
EXTREMELY GOOD VIDEO- http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7MvRyG_QqJI

A Note about Honors and AP

St. Mary’s is great in that it offers advanced and accelerated classes in pretty much every academic department so that students can challenge themselves in areas that interest them. But how many advanced classes are enough? 2? 6? It seems that today’s students, especially those at St. Mary’s, are pushed to take more and more difficult classes in the hopes of being recognized by their teachers, peers, and potential colleges. Additionally, students who choose to not take honors or AP courses are often stigmatized as less intelligent and less hardworking than those who do, which is unfair. This academic competition can have a number of unhealthy results, including large amounts of stress and anxiety, sleep deprivation, lack of exercise, and unhealthy eating habits, just to name a few.

As St. Mary’s girls, one thing we need to remember is that we’re ALL smart – that’s why we’re here. Someone who takes four honors classes is not better or more successful than someone who doesn’t take any. In fact, it’s better to be appropriately challenged in a regular level class than miserable and struggling in an AP class. High school is four years that you’ll never get back, and while it’s important to work hard and get ready for the next level, it’s also important to stay balanced and happy. Finally, know that you are all loved and appreciated for who you are, not for your SAT score, GPA, or IQ.

This is the trailer for a film called "Race to Nowhere", which is about academic competition in schools across the US and the negative results it has on students and educators.

Saturday, October 20, 2012

It's College Fair Time!

It's that time of year again. Days get shorter, leaves change color, school gets harder, and colleges come to town. On October 26th and 27th, the National Association for College Admission Counseling (NACAC) will be in Portland at the Oregon Convention Center. This is a free event, open to all high school students and their parents. Before you go, check out the list of colleges coming to Portland and register online so that you don't have to fill out a card at every table you stop at.
Freshmen: This is totally optional for you. If college isn't even on your radar, don't worry about it. If you're already super on top of things, go for it!
Sophomores: You might want to think about attending this college fair. It's a great way to get more information on colleges you've already heard about and to learn about some schools you've never heard of.
Juniors: You should definitely go if you can. Before going, look at the schools who will be there and make a list of 20 or so that you might be interested in. While you're there, also feel free to visit schools that are new to you or that sound interesting.
Seniors: If you're still figuring out where you want to apply or if you're unsure about a school, this is a great way to learn more. Also keep in mind that visiting a college's booth and chatting with the admissions rep there is a way of showing "demonstrated interest"!
Freshmen, sophomores, and juniors - don't fret it you absolutely can't make it to this college fair! NACAC comes back every spring so you'll have another chance to go later this year.

Procrastination: We All Do It

The Science of Procrastination - And How to Manage It

This is a video that Ms. Fleming showed the Christian Leadership classes. It has some really helpful tips on managing time and it explains procrastination in non-judgemental terms.