We’ve all had that one class that makes us completely lose our minds. There’s always a different struggle; it could be not understanding the material or the teacher just drives you insane. These struggles are relatively common, but they can impact a student’s educational motivation and performance.
Every morning students wake up already dreading going to that one class they despise. Although the class may be beneficial for their future career, the workload the teacher gives or the modules are sometimes just not it. It could be that the teacher is just too strict for your liking, and you would rather they gave you a bit of freedom instead of making you feel like you’re trapped in a prison. I will discuss the challenging courses that affect our school community.
A new class can be a struggle for many; freshman Arlyn Arellano found that pushing beyond their comfort zone can lead to new experiences. Engaging in new activities that seem difficult or challenging at first can lead to a fun experience. Arellano gives her insight on the most challenging class.
“Yearbook, because I had to interview people, and it was really tough for me because I’m not usually the social kind, so that was tough,” Arellano said.
This experience taught Arellano a new communication skill and helped build confidence in approaching new people. For many, participating in new things that can be abnormal for them may be difficult but can often lead to growth.
Throughout the school year the yearbook team adapted new ways of working, changing their approach for the students. Arellano gives us insight into their new way of operating.
“What changed throughout the school year was how we don’t work together anymore, because we used to work together during the beginning of the year, but then they changed it so we could focus more on our spreads for the yearbook,” Arellano said.
Seeing what yearbook has to offer and the course material, Arellano anticipated the hardships that were ahead of her. Arellano shared her thoughts on what she predicted the class would be like.
“I predicted it would be difficult because it’s yearbook, and you usually have to write about the whole story and almost everything about the school, sometimes you just have to be patient and see where it goes,” Arellano said.
Arellano shows that Yearbook is challenging and takes time. It’s important to be patient and make sure to capture all the important events throughout the school year.
Many students struggle when transitioning to more advanced classes. Students enrolled in Chemistry Honors experience a lot of difficulty with the subject. Sophomore Valerie Corcuera had some unexpected hardships with the curriculum.
“The hardest class I’ve taken this year is Chemistry Honors. I’ve always had straight A’s until chem. The test and quizzes bring my grade down a lot. I usually get about 60%. It’s hard because it’s so different from what I’m used to. There’s a lot of memorizing and problem solving,” Corcuera said.
As students navigate the roadblocks of the coursework, a difficulty can be frequent tests or quizzes that are given out; this can create a lot of stress for students which could lead to lower grades. Corcuera gives a suggestion on how she thinks stuff should be assigned to make it easier for the students so they better understand the coursework.
“I would change how we have quizzes every week. I get why we have them, but I think it should be less often. We should spend more time learning the topic before having a quiz. More practice before the quiz would also help me understand better,” Corcuera said.
Despite hearing how challenging the course is, Corcuera entered with a hopeful mindset. She believed if she put in the effort the class wouldn’t be so bad like everyone said. However Corcuera realized that the class was much more challenging than she anticipated.
“I heard that chemistry was hard, but I thought it wouldn’t be too bad if I tried. But honestly, it’s harder than I thought. I didn’t know how much work it would be or how much memorizing was needed,” Corcuera said.
Corcuera expresses that embracing a positive and hardworking mindset and putting in continuous effort is important.
“I would say don’t just accept a bad grade. Try to fix it and keep working for what you want,” Corcuera said.
Many students find certain subjects particularly challenging due to their complexity. For some, college courses can be especially difficult. One student, junior Adilene Aldape, shared their experience.
“That would have to be honestly have to be my human anatomy class in the college; the topic in general is what’s difficult for me,” Aldape said.
Having a teacher who brings humor and excitement into a classroom can make a significant difference for a student’s learning experience. For Aldape, this was the case.
“The teacher would be one of my favorites, definitely; he’s a jokester, he makes the class fun while learning,” Aldape said.
When putting yourself out there to overtake a challenging course, that often requires a strong commitment and a willingness. Aldape was aware of the challenges she was going to face when choosing her class.
“I knew it was going to be difficult; I knew I was getting myself into something else. The topics I found tough were muscles, origin distortion, and nervous system,” Aldape said.
Many students struggle to keep up with their coursework, which can lead to stressing about their academic future. Acknowledging this challenge, Aldape emphasized the importance of seeking help when needed.
“Just make sure you’re studying, and make sure you try to understand the curriculum and what’s being taught because if you don’t it’s better to ask for help than for you to suffer and be at risk of getting dropped out from your class,” Aldape said.
Many students find themselves struggling with challenging courses throughout their academic path. For some, math classes often present students with the most difficulties. This was the case for one student, senior Victoria Higareda; she shared her experience with a difficult math class she took last semester.
“The hardest class I have taken was Math 140 last semester, because you know it’s math. I think the teacher making it difficult played a small role in it, he offered a lot of help but I think I just get frustrated with math sometimes,” Higareda said.
Math courses are known for being some of the most challenging classes students encounter during their academic journey. Despite the resources that are given, many students still struggle with the frustration of solving math problems.
“What I would change in the math class was me paying more attention to the lessons,” Higareda said.
Every student has different ways of learning, and the pace of a class can influence performance. For some, a fast-paced environment can be challenging, especially in subjects that require more thinking and understanding.
“The teaching style did impact me a little bit, because I think the reason for that is because he goes at a fast pace and I need to take my time with math,” Higareda said.
Having a supportive teacher can make a difference in a student’s education. Teachers who are patient and willing to offer extra help can inspire students to be on top of their school work, even in challenging subjects.
“Yeah, I enjoyed the teacher; the teacher was patient even though I didn’t understand it and offered me tutoring,” Higareda said.
While support like tutoring sessions can be provided to you, students often find that success happens by putting in the effort yourself, like studying. Being able to balance guided help and personal effort is a key tool to academic achievements.
“Advice I would give is definitely take advantage of tutoring sessions, but also you have to put in the work yourself with studying, because if you don’t study you’re not going to be prepared for the test,” Higareda said.
MCHS students shared their experiences with challenging courses or curriculum and how they deal with them. Arellano found social challenges in their Yearbook class but discovered new skills. Corcuera struggled with frequent quizzes in Chemistry Honors but emphasized the need for more practice. Aldape faced difficulties in Human Anatomy, but appreciated the teacher’s humor. Higareda shared her challenges with a fast-paced math class, highlighting the importance of balancing tutoring with personal study. These stories collectively highlighted the theme of perseverance, using available resources, and maintaining a positive attitude when facing academic challenges.
