Every honors kid knows it- the early 5 AM alarm that wakes them up on exam day, the endless coffee (or Celcius) supply they have in their backpack, and the satisfaction of receiving an A. But the reality is, as AP exams creep closer, it's no longer fun and games now. It's a competition of who got the least sleep, who recorded the most study hours, and the dark hue under our eyes that are bragged about.

But why do we glorify our burnout? Here's the reason why.

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See It = Believe It

You're more likely to believe you'll pass an exam if you're tired from studying all day and have dark circles under your eyes. After all, when you see a perfectly functioning person, your first thought isn't that they're under the intense stress of exams - they're probably relaxing under the sun.

It's what we've been trained to see throughout the media. How many pictures have you seen of Rory Gilmore, Hermione Granger, or Blair Waldorf gulping down coffee, stressed and on edge while studying? We've seen this view of studying, that it's only effective if we have the other props to go with it, like sleep deprivation.

Otherwise, if you're relaxed and not worried about finals at all? You're not worrying enough!

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Take the Quiz: Music or no music when studying?

Which helps you study better?

Just a Little Reward Until College...

Glorifying the burnout that comes with AP classes is a coping mechanism for students. It's hard to work for a goal so far off in the future, like college is. So, we view other things as rewards, like the bloodshot eyes you have right now from binge watching Heimler's History. STILL a great study tool for the history AP classes, though.

Every exam we study for is for the ultimate goal of college, and it causes us to do anything to make ourselves feel a little gratified for our efforts. We see the sleepiness and exhaustion we get from APs as a reward, because who wants to be studying during spring break? (Yes, I am studying for AP World currently, and no, I am not exactly enjoying it.)

In other words, we tend to reward ourselves in small ways, which is good. It's been proven to decrease stress, too. But don't reward an all-nighter, because it's not a good habit-therefore, you shouldn't reward it.

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The Prestige

Quick, tell me why you want to go to Yale? Harvard? Duke? I bet it's not because they're in the northeast, and it's not because there's a Nobel Prize professor on campus either.

It's the prestige, the reputation.

But since high schoolers aren't exactly in college yet, we have prestige in other ways. Including AP classes. I can recount this from personal experience.

My grade is utterly convinced that 'honors' kids are better than those not get the extra weight on their GPA. It's a scandal if an honors kid fails an exam. It's breaking news if they drop out of the class itself.

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Taking honors/AP classes seems like a no-brainer because everyone expects it of you, your parents, your siblings, your friends, and everyone. Suddenly, an AP-filled schedule is like a token of pride. Even if your physical or mental health is suffering because of it. You've got to live up to the expectations of others, regardless of what you really want.

The Conclusion

So, how do we overcome the stigma of not taking AP and embrace that our health is worth more than a grade? Easy. Change your mindset.

Don't take honors or AP because you have to do it, or because you want the challenge. If you truly can't stand AP Physics, there's no shame in not taking it. (Who needs gravity, anyway?) Instead of striving for the 'sleep deprived' look as proof of your studying, strive for the grades that prove it.

Above all, take care of yourself. Nothing is more valuable than your health, and I can promise you a test grade will never benefit you as much as good, healthy habits do.