Ah, yes, junior year A.K.A. the worst and most difficult year of high school. Between studying for your AP classes and making it to tennis practice after school, it can be tough to even set aside eight hours to sleep. So here's 11 stressful things that every high school junior can relate to.

1. Standardized Tests: PSAT, SAT, and ACT

These three words make every junior visibly CRINGE. Not only do these scores determine what colleges you get accepted to, but also what scholarships you receive which makes taking the tests even more stressful! Sophomore year was kind to us when the P in PSAT meant Practice, but now it stands for Please make National Merit. *fingers crossed*

2. AP Classes

Most underclassmen don't take AP classes, and at some schools, they aren't even allowed to. So junior year is the first time for many to enroll in a college-level class. And if you're someone who wants to reduce the cost of college as much as possible and rack up some credits, you pile on those AP's, taking three to five. Good luck. I'm praying for you.

3. Try outs and Auditions

For many people, even before school actually starts, they are competing against their teammates to finally move up from the JV team to varsity. To do this, you know you have to put in extra time at the gym or on the field - will you be able to do it this year? For people on the theatrical side of things, this is also the time for fall play auditions, which can be a really tense time for upperclassmen because we have to find a monologue, acquire feedback from our peers, and perfect it by the time auditions come around.

4. Going to prom

Typically underclassmen don't get asked to prom (unless you're me *hairflip*), but going to prom for the first time is a big deal! You must hunt for THE perfect dress, assemble THE perfect prom group, locate THE perfect place for pictures and, of course, have THE perfect date. All of these factors determine whether or not you'll have a memorable time - so do it right!

5. Balancing work and school

Firstly I would like to acknowledge everyone who is a part-time employee and full-time student because I bow down to you. I do not understand how you do it. I can barely complete all of my homework after school before midnight -- actually, I usually don't. So I can only imagine the exhaustion/anxiety you must feel when you return home from a shift and still have more (home)work to do. My heart goes out to you.

6. Catching enough Z's

This problem is one for high school students in general but it becomes worse as you get older and have more homework and studying to do. We arrive home from school at around 3pm. We unwind for about an hour our two, set aside some time to eat dinner. And then soon enough, it's time to crack the books. (This is the part where it varies for everyone.) I typically start my homework at around 6pm, give or take an hour or two, and I work (with frequent breaks) until around midnight. So if I sleep at 12am and am expected to wake up at 6am but am supposed to get at least 8 hours of sleep a night... I'm not very good at math but those numbers don't seem to look like I'm getting enough sleep. Stay tuned for an article all about teenage sleep and school start times.

7. Saving your moolah

What's that? You got your license?! Now you and your friends are probably going to be going out a lot which calls for... spending all of your money! This summer I went out way more often than I should have and wasted my hard-earned cash on overpriced burrito bowls, yes, Cilantro, I'm talking to you. Why is your shredded cheese an expensive delicacy?? Life lesson from Mama Pujara: Go out less, study for the ACT more. Save your money for your college tuition!

8. Time management

If you're anything like me, you've struggled with this since freshman year. However it's become progressively more difficult to juggle all of your activities and sports, studying for the ACT and SAT, sleeping, napping, doing homework, writing Odyssey articles (lol), completing chores, hanging out, working, etc. AHH!! Here's something that's helped keep me focused on my homework and get it done more efficiently. As cliche as it sounds, let your phone charge in an outlet that is out of reach from the area that you are working, and put it on airplane mode. I've noticed that this reduces the temptation to grab it every time I hear a text notification.

9. Looking at colleges

Trying to get a head start on colleges can be a challenge when you don't know where to begin. You probably haven't taken the ACT or SAT yet so you don't know your scores, and AP exams are in May so you don't have those scores yet either. HOW AM I SUPPOSED TO KNOW WHAT COLLEGE I WILL BE ACCEPTED TO IF I DON'T KNOW MY SCORES YET? Fear not. Go to PrepScholar to find out what scores, GPA, and tuition you need for different colleges, and then set goals for yourself. Take practice tests until you reach your goal and are ready to take the actual exam!

10. Staying organized

You get home and start to do your homework. You pull out all of your homework from your backpack until it is virtually empty. Your blank agenda falls out. "Huh, I really should start using that," you think to yourself. Anyways, you continue to spread out all of your homework, making a really big mess. Just looking at it is overwhelming. When you think you're finished, you put everything back into the bag and head to bed. But when you're lying there in the dark, you suddenly remember you have an English project due tomorrow -- should've used that agenda!

11. Your senior friends leaving

Sooner or later, you know that mid-May is going to swing around, and the seniors are going to leave you. Thinking about this quickens your heart rate every time because you don't know what you're going to do without them. Just remember to make this last year with them the best. Cherish your time together and make memories. Because after that, that's all they will be.

There you have it, the 11 most stressful things about junior year. Between exams and college hunting, don't try to get too caught up in the future; remember to live in the present. You're young, and you won't be able to get these years back. I know it can be exhausting to try to find the balance, but with a good head on your body, you are capable of anything. Good luck in all of your endeavors.