BY ALEXA BEAULIEU, St. Petersburg High

Since the days of kindergarten, and maybe even before, parents and others have drilled it into our heads that we need to make good grades to get into a good college, to get a good job. For many of us, it’s just the way we see our lives going. College seems like the ultimate goal, and we do everything in our power to get there.

Of course, the pressure to go to college wasn’t always this extreme. Teachers and guidance counselors weren’t always calling students into their offices to get them to take the SAT for the fifth time. Ask your parents when they started thinking seriously about college and most likely they’ll say not until senior year.

Now freshman year is the end of not having to seriously worry about college, and the beginning of working your butt off. It isn’t just your GPA that has to be in perfect condition; colleges want more. It’s freshman year and already you need to be involved in student government, the school play and the basketball team. Colleges want well-rounded students, so well-rounded (and stressed out) students is what they get.

“I never realized how much I’d have to work to get into college,” said Tessa Miller, a freshman at St. Petersburg High. “But I know I have to do it.”

Students are under huge pressure to succeed. In 2011, 68 percent of high school students in the United States went on to enroll in universities or colleges. In 1992, only 54 percent of students went to college, according to a study by the National Center for Higher Education Management Systems.

  Walk into any high school classroom and see how many teachers say something about “this will be on your exam,’’ “you need this for the SAT” or “colleges love this.”  

Not that this is all bad. With the encouragement of teachers, guidance counselors and advisers, students are almost all guaranteed a chance to get into college, not just wealthy students. Here are some things to remember to help you survive your high-pressure high school experience:

It’s your decision, not your parents’ and definitely not your teachers’, but it’s still a good idea to listen to them. You can pick your career and your school, but it is helpful to weigh the opinions of others when making your decision; they may think of things you have not.

Also, don’t worry so much, and have a little fun. That’s what high school is all about, and these four years can be great if we let them. A little relaxation can go a long way, so don’t spend too long staring at those ACT flashcards.

Participate in activities you enjoy. Sure, colleges like seeing Debate Team Captain on a resume, but the cooking club may be just what you need to settle down from the pressure and really spend time doing what you love. After all, what you love makes you who you are, and no amount of pressure or testing should be allowed to take that away.