Academia

It’s not easy being smart.

Academics are a really big part of my life. I have never gotten anything less that the highest marks possible on a report card, and I’m one of four contenders for valedictorian in my Class of 2010. Right now, my cumulative GPA is somewhere in the 4.6 range (we can get a 5.0 for an honors or AP class if we get a 96% or higher). I’m taking every honors or AP class that I can possibly get my hands on.

Even if I wasn’t personally driven to accomplish everything I can academically, it wouldn’t be practical for me to do anything else. I’m going to get exactly zero financial help from my parents when it comes to college—they haven’t saved anything for me. That means it’s pretty much scholarship or bust. I’ve got a lot of dreams for my future—I want to go to college in London, for one—but I don’t know if I’ll be able to afford it. If I can get a full ride, that’s going to make my life a lot easier.

Anyway, to the point that prompted this entry: Exhaustion. Next week is exam week, and 75% of the exams I’ll be taking are in honors classes. Remembering obscure formulas from the beginning of Honors Chemistry is going to be delightful, I’m sure, ditto on names from American History. I’m so bad with names, it isn’t even funny. I have high averages in all of my classes, and the chances of me dropping below that all-important 96% in any of them are low, but that doesn’t mean I won’t be stressing over them until I have my report card in my hand.

With competition for valedictorian so close (we’re all within 0.05 of each other, if I recall), one mistake is all it would take to lose it, and right now, getting valedictorian is probably the biggest goal I have for myself. Next year is going to be a nightmare—if my scheduling works out, I’ll have four AP classes and four Honors classes. I will probably suffer a nervous breakdown at least once, but it’s what I’ve got to do.

Wish me luck.