It’s about that time in the last several months of school, where we start to look ahead and plan for the next year.

Counselors call us in to help us choose a new set of classes.

Though we don’t have a choice to get rid of math, history, or English from our lives — because of graduation requirements — there’s still a little freedom in picking electives. You also have a choice between taking regular classes, and if you’re feeling daring, honors or AP classes.

Taking higher level classes can be a big step for some students.

You might feel discouraged with all of the essays, reading, or worksheets you’ve heard other students stress over, but don’t let that change your mind.

Something that will stay true is the intense workload that these honors and college level courses provide.

While it seems that these courses are designed to ruin our lives, they are doing just the opposite — making our lives easier for the long run, and minds more enriched.

With experience comes ease. Honors and AP classes are the gateways to college. Taking AP classes is the closest experience to work you have to do in college.

These classes prepare you by improving work ethic and discipline.

We complain about the tons of work we’re assigned, but imagine what college work will be like. I’d rather be introduced to the hard work now than entering college unprepared and baffled.

There are others who take these rigorous classes just to get the highest GPA possible.

This isn’t the best motive, speaking from experience.

It can cause you to choose classes that aren’t of your best interest or are too much for you to handle.

Things go downhill from there —a lack of interest causing you to shut yourself out from focusing.

Here’s a scenario: You have a choice between Pre-calculus and Honors Pre-calculus.

With an honors class, letter grades are worth more credit (a B in a regular class is worth three points while a B is worth four points at an honors level).

So, you decide on taking honors even though math isn’t your strongest subject.

If you know you aren’t going to be capable of performing your best, or put enough focus and effort to get better in a class, don’t waste your time being in it.

You just set yourself up for failure.

Having an interest and aptitude for the subject makes the class, and learning experience more fun.

The work doesn’t seem like torture anymore.

You should take a class or subject that you are interested in because that will make the learning experience worthwhile.