Junior year is regarded as one of the most important years of high school as students begin to plan for their futures more seriously.

Balancing schoolwork, a social life, and possibly a job can be a lot of hard work for students.

Five juniors share their thoughts upon starting the new school year.

Mickeely Dias

Beginning your junior year, what are you most excited for, and nervous for, this school year?

“I am most excited for powder puff and Homecoming. Those are the best time times of the year,” Dias said. “I’m very nervous for the SAT test because it’s a determining factor for getting accepted into a good college.”

What are you hoping to achieve this year?

“I’m hoping to keep my 3.8 GPA and possibly raising it to a 3.9 GPA. I would also like to win the powder puff game,” Dias said.

As a now upperclassman, what advice would you give to younger students?

“Don’t mess around. These grades matter,” Dias said. “So stay out of all the drama and focus on school. That will get you farther than something someone said about you.”

Kristopher Perry

Beginning your junior year, what are you most excited for, and nervous for, this school year?

“As a junior, I am most excited for the SAT tests. They are, basically, one of my main tickets to a good college, and I am excited to take them,” Perry said. “I am not really a nervous person because if I become nervous it will throw me off my path and cause me to stress, so I’m not really nervous about anything.”

What are you hoping to achieve this year?

“I am hoping to have a 3.8 or higher GPA and continue getting community service hours throughout the year,” Perry said.

As a now upperclassman, what advice would you give to younger students?

“What I can’t stress enough to the younger class is to never procrastinate, especially if you take Advanced Placement classes. Procrastinating leads to more stress, causes you to cram, and it’s just an overall pain,” Perry said. “Do all of your work and don’t push it off until the last second. Once you finish studying, you’ll feel much more relaxed. It’s a huge stress reliever to know you don’t have to rush or copy someone’s homework in the morning before school and everything is done.”

Claudia Moore

Beginning your junior year, what are you most excited for, and nervous for, this school year?

“I’m most excited for being one year closer to graduation,” More said. “I’m definitely most nervous for the SAT test.”

What are you hoping to achieve this year?

“I’m hoping to pass the two AP tests I have with at least a score of four.”

As a now upperclassman, what advice would you give to younger students?

“Some advice I have is don’t treat your first years of high school as a joke. Everything counts,” Moore said. “Once you mess up you can’t go back. By senior year, you’ll regret it.”

Makenzie Boillat 

Beginning your junior year, what are you most excited for, and nervous for, this school year?

“I’m most excited for Homecoming because I get to have a good time with friends, and we get to do our homecoming routine,” Boillat said. “I’m nervous for the SAT tests because they’re really important  in determining a path after high school.”

What are you hoping to achieve this year?

“This year I’m hoping to go to states with my cheer team,” Boillat said.

As a now upperclassman, what advice would you give to younger students?

“I would tell the younger students to always be kind and keep your grades up,” Boillat said.

Kyle Langworthy 

Beginning your junior year, what are you most excited for, and nervous for, this school year?

“I am very excited that I am one year closer to finally being graduated and able to go my own route,” Langworthy said.

What are you hoping to achieve this year?

“I am hoping to achieve a high SAT score due to the fact that the test controls most of your future,” Langworthy said.

As a now upperclassman, what advice would you give to younger students?

“Maturity is a key factor in the high school,” Langworthy said. “The more mature you act, the better relations will be with the older students.”