It’s 6:15 in the morning, and the only reason I know that is because my mom is doing everything she can to wake me up. By 6:45, I’m dressed and ready to go to school. While this morning routine might appear extremely familiar to students worldwide, it may be more difficult for Chinese readers to imagine what an American high school student’s day is like. This column will follow, in closer detail, a typical day in my life.

    For me, school starts at 8:15, but I often arrive 45 minutes early to attend extracurricular activities. Model U.N. is one such club: We meet weekly in the mornings to research and discuss global issues and draft potential solutions. Hi-Q is an academic/knowledge competition that meets weekly at 7:30 to study and drill. At 8:15, I head to my first class. My schedule rotates from “A” through “F” days, but on “A” days, I have English class first. We’re studying British literature — reading poems and stories from the medieval period in Europe. My second period class is AP biology, which is usually given lecture-style. On occasion, we will perform experiments. Bio is followed by AP government and politics, which is exactly what it sounds like — learning and analyzing the United States government and policy system. I have dance class next, but other fine art classes include pottery, drawing and sketching, orchestra ensemble, and choir. After dance is a grueling hike across campus to the language building for French class followed by lunch (43 minutes) and theology. This year’s topic is scripture; most classes are spent analyzing works from the Bible as well as its authors, time periods, and situations at the time a given section was written. The last class of the day is math — one of the more stressful classes for me, so I prefer “E” days, when I have it first thing in the morning!

    After school, I might stay late for student council or a mock trial meeting. At student council meetings, groups of approximately 15 class representatives per grade work on planning and publicizing school activities. Many of my peers will stay after school for sports practice such as track, basketball, or swimming. At mock trial meetings, club members will review a hypothetical legal case and prepare to perform at trials by forming arguments and questions to defend both sides of the issue. Four out of the five school days I then go to the dance studio to take a two-and-a-half-hour-long class. After school, clubs and dance, I’ll get through dinner and begin my homework. I have nightly reading and outlining to do for AP government class and almost always several pages of math homework. Then, I’ll study for any upcoming quizzes and tests. Between all this, of course, is quite a bit of catching up with friends, mindless chatter, social networking and snacking!

    At the end of the day, it’s time for bed: 12:00, usually, though I’m known to stay up until 2:30 on particularly rough nights. However, I’ve been told that this is not too bad compared to Chinese students in the same grade as me.