While sitting there, daydreaming about relaxation this weekend, something suddenly hit me, almost like a big yellow school bus.

[THIS IS A BEGINNING JOURNALISM EXERCISE]

Just this weekend, I have an English quiz, math test, history test, and chemistry test to study for. Keep listening, I’ve just begun; I also have an English essay to write, a math assignment to complete, problems to start and a chapter to read for chemistry, five worksheets in French to complete, a French project to work on, two hours of sports practice, three hours of community service, and two SAT’s to study for.

It’s possible that I was just assigned the wrong combination of teachers or signed up for the hardest classes, only leading me to such a mountain-load of work. But truth-be-told, this is probably how every high school student’s weekend is at one point or another nowadays.

I don’t know if you’ve noticed or paid any attention at all, but the competition to get into the nation’s top colleges has created a trend; a terrible one at that. Today, the majority of students no longer choose classes for enjoyment, myself included. If you ask me why I’m taking the classes I am, or why I do community service every weekend, my immediate response to you will be, “College transcripts.”

Or maybe parental or peer pressure are what’s pushing me to my limits. Either way, it has reached a ridiculous point. Is it really worth it to sacrifice so much time and effort into attaining higher scores and better credentials than others if it’s for all the wrong reasons?

I can’t account for how much sleep every high school student is receiving each night, but personally, seven hours of sleep is pretty decent for me.

For some, seven may seem like too little. And for others, it may seem like a lot. But in general, not many are actually getting the recommended nine hours of sleep on a school night.

Instead, students are left a few hours of time open for sleep, due to delay by sports, music, or other extracurricular activities. Or it could be the hours spent in community service, internship, job, or SAT preparation after school that’s forcing students to start homework at nine o’ clock in the evening.

Regardless of how much sleep students get, the goal at mind is always clear: impress the colleges. Students these days are finding every way to further distinguish themselves to college admission officers.

Supposedly, one of the most important things colleges look at is how students spend their summers. That probably means summers are only limited to studying, internships, community service, or academic summer programs; no television, free time, or relaxation.

Anyhow, the message is clear. Students are under staggering pressure to succeed in school and get accepted into the best colleges. I could continue to list the numerous effects of the student pressure trend, but I have tests to study for and assignments to complete.

After all, do I have any other choice?