Jude Magnotti ‘26
EE Co-Managing Editor
At last here we are, the dreaded halfway point of the school year in which brains turn to mush, pencils turn to dust, and the stress levels of each and every grade level elevate to higher than they have ever been (and that is saying something). From freshmen aiming to start their high school tenure off strong, to depressed seniors who have already gotten into college just trying to get the heck out of here, the ever-elongated umbrella of midterms pain is nondiscriminatory towards the lives of students and teachers alike.
With that being said, while midterms may pose a significant challenge, they are not so insurmountable to overcome. After all, students for years and years before you have previously got them done, why can’t you? Now, here are some of the best tips I can give you as an upperclassman on how to manage your stress during this tumultuous time:
1: Plan your time studying accordingly
Studying is without a doubt one of the most important parts of midterms. The 5 hours study seshes may be grueling, but they are equally as rewarding for those who understand the content. With that being said, many students procrastinate and leave these cram sessions till the night before their midterms then proceed to pull up to school like an absolute zombie having forgotten absolutely everything they learned last night. To avoid this, study as much in class when given the opportunity. Additionally, plan your time out in organized and consistent efforts in order to maximize efforts while minimizing time spent and sleep lost. I would be lying if I said that I have consistently been able to do this. Nevertheless, it is still a good model to take after and a good goal to reach for.
2: Remember what midterms you have the next day
This one may seem obvious, but it is one that many tend to forget. I don’t think I am alone in saying that walking into the mid term to find you studied for the wrong one after a night of cramming is one of the worst feelings in the world. To avoid this, make sure to be conscientious of your midterm schedule and what classes you have each day. This way, you will never experience the feeling so many of us have come to know and dread
3: Know which days you have off
While this may not apply to everyone, most people tend to have one or two periods off during midterms week. Knowing this, these almost 2 hour periods can serve as vital assets for not just free time and leisure, but studying as well. If you have a mid term second period and then a free one before, why not use the 2 hours to study and prep for your test instead of playing block blast on your phone? If you have an exam first period and the next off, why not either stay and study for your next exam at the library or go home and get comfy with your study materials while watching the season finale of Gossip Girl. Many take these off periods for granted, but if used correctly they can prove to be an indispensable resource.
4: SLEEP!!!
I know this may be shocking, but human beings actually need to sleep in order to function. Crazy right! In the case of midterms, this is especially true as you will be waking up at 6 the next day to go take 4 hours of exams. While it may be tempting to stay up in order to put a little bit more studying in, your sleep has been proven to be infinitely more valuable to your academic performance than your 2 hours of extra cramming. Try this, and you may even find yourself able to get through school without your morning starbucks or redbull for once.
5: Understand the importance of exams
While one mid term will not make or break your academic future in a class or at this school, the compounding effect of each grade can have a significant effect on your overall progress. This rings especially true given that the percentage of grade your midterm is worth increased from 5% to 10% more recently. The reality is, if you put in even just a mild amount of effort, you can do okay on a midterm and be overall stable in the class. However, if you just put in that one extra dose of effort most kids fail to give, you will have given yourself not only a convenient advantage that most students undermine, but a valuable boon to your overall grade. Stay strong, keep studying, and inspire yourself with the confidence to keep learning, succeeding, and growing while appreciating the true purpose of the many trials of high school: Learning how to learn.