I’ve taken pre-AP and AP classes all throughout high school, and every time within the first few weeks of school, I want to drop out. It’s either too stressful, or too boring, or too hard. And every time I do, I end up staying anyway, and realize it was all due to my mismanagement of time or some other thing that was my own fault. I would regret staying every so often, but ultimately I decided to stick with it because I saw that it wouldn’t hurt to try. 

I guess you could say it’s because I’m used to the challenge that AP courses bring me, and I enjoy them a lot because it encourages me to work harder and get out of my educational comfort zone. There’s probably a lot of students who feel the same way as I do, but I know there are a lot that don’t, especially if it’s their first AP class.

Taking AP classes doesn’t make you more superior or more intelligent than the average person. Sure, it has its benefits, such as college credit and making you eligible for other educational opportunities, but there’s also a million other things that can do that and more; you don’t have to rely on AP classes to take you farther in life. 

Teachers have the best intentions when they implore you to take AP classes, but sometimes they aren’t for everyone. An “easy” AP class to some doesn’t mean it’s easy for everyone else. Everyone learns and takes comprehends things differently, so why shame them if they know their limits and decide to drop an AP class?

AP classes can be stressful for a lot of students, especially for those who are taking one for the first time. They might feel like they’re dumb for not understanding a concept as fast as others do, or not knowing certain keywords and methods. Because many AP students see AP classes as essential to becoming successful in college, many students might feel ashamed, or unworthy, or lazy for wanting to drop the classes. Nobody should ever feel like that. Taking AP classes doesn’t make you cooler, smarter, or more attractive. In the end, it’s just a class.