Not a waste of time at all. High school is hard for a high school student. They're some of the earliest years where you're making your own decisions and tackling your own problems, but while it's more complicated than childhood there's always support and advice if you know where to turn.

I think some people can psyche themselves out with homework. Looking at a list of assignments and chapters to read makes it look like an enormous task, but a rough draft can be lazily written while eating a snack and isn't something you need to show to anyone. It's just something to put your ideas down on so that you can do something with them the next day.