The Life of an Advanced Placement Student

Steve Gardner
18 Dec 200909:08
EducationalLearning
32 Likes 10 Comments

TLDRThe transcript captures a student's overwhelming experience with the start of a new school year, packed with advanced courses like AP Spanish, Chemistry, Art, Calculus BC, Comparative Government, English III, and US History. Despite the initial optimism about a relaxed first week, the reality of a heavy workload quickly sets in with a myriad of assignments, including extensive book studies, art projects, political analysis, and a comprehensive research paper on the Civil War. Amidst the academic pressure, there's a struggle to balance school with social life, as the student foregoes a movie outing to focus on homework, highlighting the challenging and often exhausting nature of academic rigor and the pursuit of college admission.

Takeaways
  • πŸ“š The student is apprehensive about their new classes, including several AP courses and honors classes.
  • πŸ€” Despite the workload, the student is reassured that teachers typically don't assign homework during the first week.
  • 🎨 The art class requires students to create a portfolio with various mediums like pastels and mixed papers.
  • πŸ“ˆ For math, the student is tasked with graphing equations involving trigonometric functions within a tight deadline.
  • πŸ“ A ten-page paper is assigned for the comparative government class, comparing political institutions in different countries.
  • πŸ“œ In US history, a research paper is required analyzing the Civil War from multiple perspectives, with a strict deadline.
  • πŸ₯± The student's social life is affected by their academic workload, as they can't attend a movie outing due to homework.
  • 😴 Sleep deprivation is a recurring issue for the student, impacting their daily routine and school performance.
  • πŸ‘• A lack of sleep also leads to disorganized dressing, indicating the student's exhaustion.
  • πŸ” There's mention of a food-related assignment or event, suggesting extracurricular activities or projects.
  • πŸ“… The end of the school week brings relief to the student, who is eager to be free from homework.
Q & A
  • What is the student's initial feeling about the new school year?

    -The student is excited to see friends but also worried about the new classes they are taking.

  • Which advanced courses is the student taking?

    -The student is taking AP Spanish, AP Chemistry, AP Art, AP Calculus BC, AP Comparative Government, English 3 Honors, and AP US History.

  • What does the teacher assure the student about the first week of school?

    -The teacher assures the student that there will be no homework during the first week of school.

  • What is the specific task given to the student for their chemistry class?

    -The student is supposed to learn half the book and every appendix in the back, or else they risk not passing the national exam.

  • What art-related assignments does the student have to complete by Thanksgiving?

    -The student needs to work on an easel with pastels and mixed papers to create a portfolio.

  • What mathematics task is the student expected to complete by the next day?

    -The student is expected to write graphs for sine, cosine, tangent, secant, cosecant, and cotangent for ten equations.

  • What is the political science assignment the student must complete?

    -The student must write a ten-page paper comparing political institutions and processes in Russia, Mexico, and Nigeria.

  • What is the history assignment the student has to do from a dual perspective?

    -The student has to write a research paper on why the Civil War curved, analyzing it from the perspectives of the South, the North, and a neutral standpoint.

  • How does the student's friend react to the idea of going to see a movie?

    -The friend is enthusiastic about seeing 'Twilight New Moon' but the student cannot join because they have too much homework.

  • What is the student's attitude towards their schoolwork and future goals?

    -The student is serious about their schoolwork, aiming to get into Princeton and avoiding a less prestigious university like Brown.

  • How does the student's sleep deprivation affect their daily routine?

    -The student's lack of sleep leads to choosing clothes randomly and potentially being late for school.

Outlines
00:00
πŸ“š Overwhelmed by Schoolwork

The student expresses mixed feelings about the new school year, looking forward to seeing friends but also worried about the challenging classes ahead, including AP Spanish, AP Chemistry, AP Art, AP Calculus BC, AP Comparative Government, English 3 Honors, and AP US History. Despite the workload, the student is reassured that teachers usually don't assign homework during the first week. A conversation in Spanish about a book assignment is overheard, and the student is reminded of the importance of understanding polyatomic negative ions for an upcoming national exam. The pressure is on to complete a painting for art class by Thanksgiving, and the student is tasked with learning various graphs for trigonometric equations. A ten-page paper on political institutions in Russia, Mexico, and Nigeria is also due, adding to the student's academic stress.

05:04
😴 Sleep Deprivation and School Struggles

The student faces the consequences of sleep deprivation, having only slept three hours the previous night, which leads to a disheveled appearance and struggle to get ready for school. Despite the lack of homework on the first day, the student is burdened by the anticipation of a heavy workload, particularly a challenging chemistry test. The conversation shifts to a discussion about a classmate who is too exhausted to attend school due to the overwhelming amount of homework. The student's sister, Kayla, is mentioned in the context of school schedules, and the relief of finishing school for the day is palpable, although more homework awaits.

Mindmap
Keywords
πŸ’‘School Year
The term 'School Year' refers to the academic year in which students attend educational institutions. In the context of the video, it signifies the beginning of a new academic period, bringing a mix of excitement and apprehension for the student who is looking forward to seeing friends but also worried about the challenges of new classes.
πŸ’‘AP Classes
AP, or Advanced Placement, classes are rigorous, college-level courses offered in high schools that can potentially earn students college credit. In the video, the student is enrolled in several AP classes, indicating a challenging academic schedule that includes subjects like Spanish, Chemistry, Art, Calculus BC, Comparative Government, and US History.
πŸ’‘Homework
Homework refers to tasks or assignments given by teachers to be completed outside of class time. It is a key aspect of the educational process that helps students practice and reinforce what they have learned. In the video, the student is concerned about the volume of homework they might receive, especially given their heavy course load.
πŸ’‘Workload
Workload refers to the amount of work a person has to do, often used to describe the volume of tasks, assignments, or responsibilities one must handle. In the context of the video, the student's workload is significant, encompassing multiple AP classes and the associated assignments and projects.
πŸ’‘Exams
Exams are formal tests of a student's knowledge and understanding of a particular subject. They are a critical part of the academic evaluation process. In the video, the student is aware of the importance of exams, especially the 'national exam' mentioned, which they need to pass to avoid failing their class.
πŸ’‘Portfolio
A portfolio is a collection of a student's work that showcases their skills, accomplishments, and progress over time. In the video, the art student is tasked with creating a portfolio, which includes various types of artwork such as pastels and mixed media, demonstrating their artistic abilities.
πŸ’‘Political Institutions
Political institutions are the organized structures and mechanisms through which a society makes decisions, allocates resources, and manages conflicts. In the video, the student is assigned a ten-page paper comparing political institutions and processes in different countries, which requires an understanding of how these structures function and their impact on governance.
πŸ’‘Civil War
The Civil War refers to a significant historical event in the United States, a conflict fought between 1861 and 1865 over issues such as states' rights and slavery. In the video, the student is asked to analyze the causes and perspectives of the Civil War, indicating a deep dive into historical analysis and understanding.
πŸ’‘Social Life
Social life encompasses the activities and relationships that individuals engage in outside of their academic or professional responsibilities. In the video, the student's social life is impacted by their academic commitments, as they decline an invitation to a movie due to the pressure of completing homework.
πŸ’‘Sleep Deprivation
Sleep deprivation refers to the state of not getting enough sleep, which can lead to physical and mental fatigue, affecting one's ability to function effectively. In the video, the student's lack of sleep is evident, with one character only sleeping for a few hours and another not sleeping at all, highlighting the impact of academic stress on their well-being.
πŸ’‘Academic Pressure
Academic pressure refers to the stress and expectations placed on students to perform well academically, often leading to a sense of obligation and anxiety. In the video, the students face significant academic pressure, with one expressing the need to complete homework to maintain a chance of getting into a prestigious university like Princeton.
Highlights

Student's excitement for the new school year, but also concern about new classes.

Mention of a challenging course load, including multiple AP classes and honors English.

Reassurance that teachers typically don't assign homework during the first week of school.

A request for a specific page in a book, indicating a possible assignment or study focus.

Discussion about polyatomic negative ions, suggesting a focus on chemistry.

A daunting task of learning half a book and every appendix to pass a national exam.

An art assignment involving pastels and mixed media, with a deadline after Thanksgiving.

A mathematics assignment requiring graphing various trigonometric functions.

A ten-page paper comparing political institutions in Russia, Mexico, and Nigeria, due the next day.

A request for a three-essay structure analysis from three different writers.

A comprehensive research paper on the Civil War from multiple perspectives, due the next day.

A friend's invitation to see a movie, highlighting the social aspect of school life.

Mention of the pressure to perform well academically for college admissions.

A student's struggle with sleep deprivation and the impact on school performance.

A humorous anecdote about choosing clothes based on proximity to the bed due to lack of sleep.

A chemistry test mentioned, indicating an upcoming academic challenge.

A student's exhaustion to the point of potentially missing school, emphasizing the workload.

The relief of finishing school for the day and the anticipation of no homework.

A reminder of future academic responsibilities and the scheduling of next year's classes.

Transcripts
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