As the school year comes to a close, it brings not only the relief of summer, but the exhaustion of a marathon. This year, more than ever, advanced classes have felt less like academics and more like a relentless endurance test. While these classes are encouraged for us to prepare for college, it makes for a breaking point for students, making GPA seem more important than actually learning.

The pressure to take the most challenging classes is immense. Schools and outside of schools are constantly pushing students to maximize their academic workload. That creates a culture of competitiveness where students may feel forced to take more advanced courses that they simply cannot handle. The resulting workload of these classes often leads to students having late night study sessions, and makes them constantly feel behind.

The idea of taking an AP class changes from actually learning to just thinking about the number and letter on a grade. Instead of fostering curiosity, the sheer volume of work can cause curiosity to plummet. When success is defined only by being at the top, students can often feel overworked and overwhelmed.

However, this pressure is not without its complicated advantages, taking difficult courses forces students to build a strong work ethic and improve time management skills. Successfully being able to manage these skills at a young age builds resilience later in life, and may lead to positive outcomes. The key to getting past all of this stress is learning to cope with the challenges rather than just survive them.

Ultimately, the pressure of AP classes is a double-edged sword and while they have many benefits in life, they also come at a cost of mental drain. Moving forward, the goal should be to balance necessary school with personal well-being. Managing these is a skill for personal growth and success