As many of us know, AP classes are the most stressful and difficult classes you’ll ever encounter in your high school career. Whether it be AP Psychology, or AP Stats, or AP Great American Writers, each AP class presents a new and unique challenge that requires much preparation and dedication in order to do well.

As someone who took Honors Physics junior year and AP Physics this year, I can safely say that I have a passion for this science. I also know that Physics is a science that is hard to understand and that in order to succeed and do well in AP Physics, a lot of hard work and motivation is required, as well as having a strong foundation for a lot of the material.

This being said, I do not believe at all that allowing juniors to take AP Physics when they haven’t even taken Honors Physics is a smart idea. For those of you that may not know, the new curriculum changes basically state that Honors Physics will no longer be offered to juniors. They will either have to take Regular Physics or jump straight into AP Physics.

If I hadn’t taken Honors Physics last year, I would have no clue what was going on in my AP Physics class this year, and I know that I wouldn’t have been prepared for the AP test come May. This class is challenging enough as it is, and I don’t think the juniors who decide to take AP Physics will be ready for their AP test without knowing at least some of the information beforehand.

I completely understand that taking AP classes and challenging yourself is the best way to grow as a student and academic thinker. The AP classes I’ve taken have all challenged me in ways I’d never been challenged before and I can undoubtedly say that I’ve become a better student by having had taken them. There’s a fine line, however, between challenging yourself and biting off more than you can chew. It’s not fair for students or teachers to be forced into a situation where they have such limited options.

Physics is a science meant to be enjoyed and well worth the hard work you have to put into it. I’m afraid that it won’t be appreciated as much if students are too busy stressing about how confused they are or how much homework they have or how much studying they have to do. Yes, AP classes are meant to be difficult. But you’re also supposed to get something out of them. With the new curriculum changes involving AP Physics, it might be a little harder for students to do this.