Ask M - Spectrum’s Advice Column

If you are interested in having your questions answered, email ian.bowen@nyackschools.org or justin.morales@nyackschools.org 

Dear M, 

I am having trouble adjusting to my new workload. This year, I added two AP courses to my schedule. I have taken Honors courses in the past, but this already feels really different. I am staying up all hours to get homework done, which is making me tired in class. There are times the teacher is talking, and I have no idea what they are saying. What should I do? ~Burnt-Out 

Dear Burnt-Out, 

Recognizing that a specific environment is detrimental to your well-being and having the courage to change it is a sign of maturity and self-awareness, not failure. HOWEVER, because you have already been in class for almost a full semester, you can’t make a rash decision in the heat of the moment. You need to be strategic about it. 

Before you make a move to drop a class, you need to ask yourself why you are taking said class. Be honest with yourself; are you taking it because it is a prerequisite for a specific college program or a strict graduation requirement? Or are you taking it due to external pressure (it “looks good” for college applications, your friends are taking it, you feel like you should be able to handle it, etc.)? If this class is not required for your diploma, college major, or intended career path, then it is likely a course you have elected to take, which is meant to enhance your education, not drain the life out of you. If you are sacrificing your mental health and stability for a class that doesn’t serve a concrete purpose, that should be a wake-up call that it isn’t the right class for you. HOWEVER, if you do need this credit for graduation, dropping might cause complications. 

Your guidance counselor is your most valuable resource right now. But you have to approach them correctly. Do not walk into their office and say, “I want to quit because it's hard and I’m tired.” While that is true, it sounds like you are avoiding a challenge. Instead, schedule a meeting in advance (like I do with my guidance counselor when I have something I want to discuss) and say something along the lines of: “I’ve been trying to make this work for weeks, but the workload is impacting my mental health and my ability to participate in other activities/extracurriculars that are important to to me. What are my options right now?” It is unlikely that your guidance counselor has never gone through this with another student before. They are they to help you, so ask for help.

Ask yourself: If you stay in this class, will your grades in your other classes suffer? Will you be too exhausted to do your work for other classes or participate in clubs you care about? You mentioned you have little time for clubs and extracurricular activities. Colleges/university admissions officers would much rather see a student with a B or C average who participates in clubs and is mentally healthy, than an A-average student who is miserable, isolated, and burnt out. A student with a slightly less rigorous course load but excellent grades, strong extracurricular involvement, and a passion for their interests makes a much better impression on college admissions officers compared to one who took the hardest classes, has no life outside of academics, and ended up with mediocre grades. Colleges want to see that you can manage your time and that you have interests beyond the classroom. 

No class is worth sacrificing your mental health for. When you are exhausted and unhappy, you are spending more time studying but retaining less information. By stepping back from the source of that stress, you aren’t giving up. Learning to set boundaries and say no to pressures (from your parents, friends, yourself, etc.) is a skill that will serve you well in college and in the workforce. 

It is completely reasonable to want to reclaim your time and happiness. Dropping a class to realign your current situation is beneficial to your well-being and your goals. Please go talk to your counselor, evaluate your graduation/college requirements, and make the decision that protects your peace of mind. You got this.

- M.