As second semester begins, so does class registration. Every year, I watch ambitious, bright students sign up for a million honors courses in February, only to severely regret their decision in the fall. I was totally one of those students coming into high school, but over the years, I’ve learned a lot. The most important thing in class registration (and picking your activities for the next year) is balance.
I understand that it’s very important to challenge yourself, but it’s also incredibly important to prioritize. Only taking honors and AP Classes, especially for students involved in extracurriculars, is a recipe for disaster. Choose to take hard classes in subjects you enjoy, especially in fields that you want to go into. It’s good to try out things now when they are free instead of waiting until you have to pay for those experiences.
For a long time, I wanted to major in economics. I took AP Economics my junior year to test the waters. Although I liked the class and had an amazing teacher, I learned very quickly that it wasn’t a field I wanted to work in. I’m so glad I learned this in high school instead of entering college with a major that I didn’t know enough about.
Finally, I think it’s important to make sure you won’t be crazy busy. Even if you can technically handle an insane schedule, it’s not worth the detriment to your mental health. Taking a few “easy” classes does not make you lazy. They will still be engaging, and you will learn. Also, if something goes wrong in your life, it’s important that you have time to deal with it without everything falling apart.
Registering for classes is a great opportunity to explore your interests while still in high school.