As the 2024 year comes to a close, first semester finals are here.
During this time, stress rises and work increases. There are some main places where the stress resonates.
“I would say academic … requirements and expectations are the ones we are going to see first and foremost,” Angie Rizzuto (staff) said. Rizzuto is the counseling department’s lead.
Many students of all grades stress about their academic excellence.
“I am more stressed about my grades right now and I want to get a good GPA ,especially for my future because I want to get into a better college,” Keira Roles (09) said.
Many students believe that over the years, it becomes even more important to maintain a high GPA because the college search is sooner.
“It’s been stressful. It’s incredibly important to me to get good grades as mid-term scores will be sent to my college, and I don’t want any poor final grades to hinder my opportunity at a college,” Kara Haj (12) said.
Beside just academics, there are more stressors in a student’s life.
“This time of year when we are winding down to not be here for two weeks, for some students, school is the safest place they have in their life. It’s the most welcoming place they have in their life. It’s the consistent place,” Rizzuto said. “It’s the place where they can get a free meal.”
For some students, certain classes or subjects stress them out more than others.
“My most stressful classes have been AP Psychology and AP Government, as the tests in those two classes are particularly difficult,” Haj said.
Prioritizing the classes that colleges will look at also adds to the stress of finals.
Roles is most nervous for her “core classes mainly — math, language arts, science. I think that colleges look more at those types of classes and see how I am and it’s based off of that.”
With finals here, students sometimes have a hard time staying focused and motivated due to stress and distractions.
“The amount of distractions for students and the inability to sustain focus is an issue,” Rizzuto said.
However, there are certain ways students can help their stress and maintain their focus.
“I kinda plan out my days and I make sure I get plenty of sleep and I designate time for certain activities like that,” Roles said.
For some students, doing the things they love helps with stress.
“I cope with stress by spending my free time working on myself by going to the gym,” Haj said, “as well as passing time with friends.” She said another way to help with stress “is to not procrastinate and to take advantage of any free time in classes or outside of school to study.”
Many people say that one way to help with stress is to prioritize self-care.
“I think the very first and foremost thing students can do to cope with the stress is to realize that self-care is health care,” Rizzuto said. “Taking care of yourself is the No. 1 factor to being a healthy person … listening to your body, making sure you are getting enough sleep, making sure you are eating.”
