As first semester finals approach students lock themselves in their room, down five cups of coffee, or just pray.
“I am not going out on the weekends,” junior Jayla Harsley said. “I am going [to go] through all my notes and ask teachers about things I don’t understand.
Many students prefer to spread out the material so that they can retain more information. Sophomore Claire Ji plans on putting her studying in chunks, which she believes will be more effective.
“I am going to plan a week for every subject and just spread out the reviewing with that week,” Ji said. “This way I won’t feel as rushed and there is more time to study.”
This is also a time for students to fix bad study habits. Some students want to change how they studied for finals last year, especially procrastination.
“I always plan everything but end up having to cram everything the night before,” Ji said. “I am definitely going to try to avoid that this year. I like to reward myself with an episode of Friends after I get alot of work done.”
Senior Nicky Mraz takes a systematic approach when studying for finals. She goes through each column in the chapters of the book and then compares them to the other notes.
Places such as Bread Company become students’ second home as they study for final exams. Since these places offer free wifi, coffee, and food they have everything students need to get through finals.
“Last year I went to Bread Company with my friends,” sophomore Taylor Burlis said. “We pretty much lived there because we spent so much time. On some days we spent spent almost five hours studying. It helped me a lot and it was fun, so I want to do it again.”
Junior Jamal Richie is going to take advantage of what the school has to offer by going to the library after school to study before his final exams.
For upperclassmen, finals are more stressful even after having experience. For the upperclassmen who have not yet been accepted into a college this could be the test that will determine the college they go to.
“It’s more stressful because colleges are going to be looking at this year.” Harsley said.
Some seniors look forward to finals, realizing that it will be their last time taking them.
“It’s different being a senior taking it for the last time,” Mraz said. “I’m definitely more happy than nervous.
