Junior year has a reputation as the most hellish year of high school, so I'm here to save the day and share my wisdom. Since I am just finishing up my junior year of high school, I deemed it fit to share some of my... observations. It's not as bad as it seems, but there are some things that you should definitely look out for. With that said, it's your last year before it's all college all the time, so have fun with it!

1. Challenge yourself -- REASONABLY.

It's supposed to be hard - but not daily-mental-breakdown hard.

2. Just go to bed.

Sleep is much better than staying up all night stressing over that assignment you should've done weeks ago.

3. Have a social life, but don't go too crazy.

Junior year tends to be the year that everyone "finds themselves"... be warned.

4. Get good grades!!

Seriously, I can't stress this enough. If you've been lazy all of high school, now's your chance to prove to colleges that you're capable of big things.

5. Make friends with your teachers.

Before you know it, you're going to have to ask for teacher recommendations. Be nice to them! I know it might be painful, but it'll be worth it.

6. Visit colleges.

You're not going to have time senior year and you're not going to want to do it over the summer when there aren't even students at the school. Just do it!

7. Take practice standardized tests - LOTS of them.

This is definitely the worst part about junior year. Studying for the SAT/ACT tests on top of all your other school work is a huge pain in the ass, but it WILL pay off - I promise.

8. Take classes you actually WANT to take.

This is the year that everyone will start asking you what you want to be when you grow up. Take a few classes you actually enjoy so you can go about answering that question without a mental breakdown.

9. Visit your counselor regularly.

School counselors rock. They know what's up and they're going to have to write a rec for you - stand out!

10. Focus on yourself.

Yeah, cute boys/girls are delightful distractions, and that mean girl who tried to steal your best friend makes you want to rip your hair out, but that's not the point of junior year - you are! Make junior year about accepting yourself and being the best you can be.

11. Do your homework.

Doing your homework - no matter how pointless the assignment - is the easiest way to boost your grades. Not doing your homework is the easiest way to bring them way lower than they should be. Do whatever you gotta do to get assignments in ON time.

12. End your toxic friendships once and for all.

We all have them, and it's time to let them go. Bad friendships can distract you from what's important and just make you feel like crap. This is the year to find YOUR people.

You got this!