As a high school student, the worst month of the year is hands down January. Sure, it kicks off the new year with new goals and beacon of hope, but let’s be real, it’s mostly a crushing reminder that goals are much harder to achieve than we think. Not to mention coming back from the long winter break is always a challenge, and when you’re not used to doing homework, the workload can seem impossible to manage.

First of all, winter break is over, and you can feel the collective energy of despair hanging in the air when the bell rings at 7:30 am on January 7. For two glorious weeks, we were free, no homework, no tests, just chill vibes. Then, without warning, it’s back to reality: early mornings, endless classes, and the overwhelming pressure of catching up on assignments you probably didn’t finish before break. You know that wave of motivation you felt in December, promising to be productive over the holidays? Yeah, it’s completely gone.

But it’s not just the end of break that makes January suck. The weather is awful. It is always freezing cold sometimes there is snow on the ground, sometimes there isn’t, either way it is terrible. This will make you dread even leaving the house. And don’t even get me started on the darkness. It feels like the sun sets at 3 PM, which dictates your entire mood. Getting up for school can be challenging when it is pitch black outside and you still have to scrape your car.
Then, there’s the workload. January is like a test of your endurance. Teachers have just as much energy as they did in the fall, which means no slack whatsoever. You’re thrown back into exams, quizzes, and projects, all at once. And it’s not just one subject; it’s every class piling on extra work. By mid-January, you’re already so buried under assignments, it feels like the year has just started and you’re already behind.

Of course, let’s not forget about the new year’s resolutions. Everyone talks about starting fresh, but as a high school student, I can barely keep up with my normal routine, let alone start a new lifestyle and stay strong in my goals. The pressure to make January “the month of change” only adds to the stress, especially when you can’t even remember to charge your chrome book every night.

Overall, January is the worst month because it’s a harsh reminder that we have to keep grinding through the school year with no fun in sight. You’re stuck in a phase of post-holiday burnout, freezing weather, and a school workload that won’t let up. For high school students, it feels like you’re running a marathon without the promise of a finish line anytime soon. So let’s face it, January is easily the worst month of the year.