The school struggle is real

Does that first bell of the day fill you with dread? Turn your classroom worries into wins-and you just might make the hallways your happy place before the year's out.

- KATHLEEN O'NEILL

Remember back in kindergarten when your weekdays consisted of storytime, puppet shows and recess? Fast forward to high school, and you have a whole different picture. Between AP courses, mountains of homework, club meetings and friend drama, it's no wonder the whole thing can be, well, kind of overwhelming/exhausting/ defeating/all of the above.

In fact, researchers from Yale University found that nearly 75% of students reported negative feelings about high school. The reason? They're bored, tired and, above all, stressed about their workloads. "Many teens dislike school because of all the pressures they're facing," explains Lynsey Westfall, a therapist and former high school counselor.

But chances are, if you're having overall angst about your education, there's a bigger underlying reason. Consider this your study guide to surviving some common school stressors and acing your way through the rest of the year.

You can't stand sitting through boring classes.

A+ SOLUTION: The biggest key here? Shifting your mindset about school. To be honest, it isn't always going to be a fun fest-and while you might get psyched about certain subjects, there will inevitably be a few classes that you just can't stand.

For those, take time to prepare and actively pay attention. The material may be more interesting after you've done a deep dive and you're ready to discuss, so spend an extra 15 minutes the night before skimming the next chapter in your textbook and jotting down a list of questions.