The first semester recently concluded with final exams and project deadlines. Some junior students said it’s been one of the more stressful school years for them.

Eden Lewis described the workload as one of the main challenges.

“The amount of homework and studying increased a lot compared to sophomore year,” she said.

She said that balancing multiple classes required better organization. By the end of the semester, Eden reported improvement in managing her schedule.

“I got better at planning out my assignments and using my time more efficiently,” she said.

Payton Travis talked the pressure associated with performance and expectations.

“There’s a lot of focus on grades and thinking about college,” Payton said.

She said this made tests and major assignments more stressful. Despite this, Payton said she noticed positive results.

“I learned how to stay consistent with my work and not fall behind,” she said.

According to Payton, completing the semester helped her feel more prepared for future academic demands.

Lanessa Montejo talked about social and collaborative challenges.

“Group projects and changing friendships were harder than I expected,” Lanessa said.

She explained that communication became more important throughout the semester.

“I learned how to work with different people and speak up more,” she added.