I woke up before my alarm to the familiar stab of pain in my lower abdomen. Living with endometriosis meant mornings often began with a choice: slow down or push on. I chose to push on. By sophomore year, I was enrolled in multiple difficult classes, convinced that stacking more Advanced Placement courses would prove I could handle anything life threw at me.

Late nights hunched over my textbooks only made the pain worse, and the anxiety that accompanied each pop quiz felt like a tightening coil. I remember pacing my bedroom, reciting formulas out loud in the hope that reading them would somehow dull the ache. But no matter how many equations I solved, I couldn’t calculate away the doubts—mine or anyone else’s.

Junior year brought Community School, and everything shifted. In that smaller, more flexible setting, teachers asked about my health and cared about my comfort. My classmates weren’t strangers competing for the top score; they were friends who shared notes and checked in on my well-being.

With that support, I stayed in every one of my AP classes and still sat for each exam. But I learned to balance my ambitions with my limits. I scheduled short breaks between study sessions, spent Sunday afternoons walking instead of working, and made taking care of my body non-negotiable. It didn’t mean I gave up—it meant I gave myself a fighting chance.

Now, as a senior, I’m proud to say I pushed through every AP challenge. I’ve got a boyfriend who reminds me to find the joy in life, and friends who celebrate the small wins. I still feel pain, and some days test my patience more than others. But I’ve come to welcome the setbacks. Failing a practice test taught me more about perseverance than acing one ever could.

If I could talk to my younger self, I’d say this: it’s okay to push hard, but don’t ignore the signals your mind and body send you. Balance isn’t a luxury—it’s the bedrock of success. Prioritize mental health the way you’d prioritize your next exam, because it’s just as important. In the end, the struggles I endured didn’t hold me back; they prepared me for everything that lies ahead.