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.
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