The weeks in between Thanksgiving and Winter Break are notably some of the most stressful for students. Due dates and final exams can overwhelm some students, turning school and work into a struggle. To remain positive and motivated, students have identified motivators and habits to incorporate into their school days, aiming to reduce stress and boost motivation.
At the end of the semester, academic pressure is high for many students. This added pressure can lead to school becoming extremely overwhelming.
“Everything is stressful,” said Vera Kurbatova (‘27). “[I think] about the past and [wonder if I] should have done more extracurriculars or have done better in this class. Then I’m thinking about the future and what I’m going to do next year… Then also in the present, I have a test to worry about next period.”
Furthermore, final exams are the last chance for grades to change.
“For me and a lot of people I know with grades like an 89 or an 88.5…, you need a good grade on the final. I feel like that’d be a little stressful for some people,” said John Phelps (‘28).
Students noted that as school becomes stressful, they find themselves not wanting to attend. In order to remain positive and enjoy the day, students have found things to get them through the day.
“Sometimes [when I get to school] I just want to go home… but then towards the end of the day, after I’ve been talking to my friends, I realize it’s not too bad anymore,” said Mia Wulf (‘28).
For students on the extroverted side, seeing friends at school is a common motivator to get through the day. Communicating experiences to friends can help students work through difficult emotions.
“I try to make a point of talking to all of my friends. If I’m having an especially hard time, I like to see how they’re feeling, and try to emotionally relate to them,” said Emily Burges (‘29). “If they’re happy, I’m happy.”
While friendship can be an outlet for students to express their feelings, these relationships can also be a factor that makes school more difficult. Some students find that balancing school and a social life can become emotionally draining.
“Because I’ve been doing a lot this year, I feel too tired to hang out with people,” said Lia Tran (‘27). “To stay motivated, I remind myself that receiving an education is a privilege.”
External motivators can help students in a variety of ways. Some students have small habits to find joy in the moment while others focus on bigger goals to work towards. For students who like music, they can find playlists that fit the mood they need in order to make them feel better.
“I’m really into music, so having a good playlist helps me calm down on my way to and from school, and while doing homework I like to listen to instrumental music,” said Kurbatova.
Other students make time to get out of the house in order to reenergize themselves.
“I just give myself a chance to listen to my mind and get outside a little bit,” said Phelps. “I’ll hang out with friends or play some basketball.”
Final exams can become stressful, so it’s important to avoid procrastination. Many students recommend putting effort into class work the week before finals so that they can focus on studying during finals week.
“Hard work is reflected in my final exam score,” said Zachary Lantermen (‘27). “Whenever there’s a practice exam…, I always take the practice exam… Basically, just do the work in class, do the homework, and do practice exams and you’ll pass your final exams with flying colors.”
