By TAYLOR NEESE
Sheridan High School Student
The Sheridan Student Column is brought to readers by Sheridan High School’s 10th grade English class, taught by Abby Williams.
The most trying time of the school year for students is when final exams are occurring. What makes this even worse is the fact that it happens twice. The second time the exams happen it is even more stressful than the first. This column will go into more detail about ways students can be more productive so they can get through exams with fewer complications. It will also suggest some ways to manage and deal with this stress.
Being productive is hard to complete while under copious amounts of stress; however, it can still be done. The first step is to study, though it is the most basic and the least fun. Students must devote their time to this act. Success will not be possible, no matter the subject, if studying is not made a priority. The second is to set up a schedule specifically for exam time. Items on your normal schedule need to be adjusted, such as when you fall asleep at night, when you study, and how much time is used for things other than preparing, including free time. A well-balanced schedule and a set time for studying will only produce success. Students should also plan ahead for exam day. Under this category falls planning to eat breakfast in the morning before school, not staying out late, and not going out for too long instead of studying.
If students are left feeling overly stressed for too long, they can begin to feel burnt out. Some great ways to relieve stress may be the simplest. A popular way to relieve stress is to go out with friends. This method would be best used for after exam time. Learning a few different types of breathing techniques can be very helpful for before, during, or after the exams. You even relax by simply taking part in an activity you enjoy.
Other forms of relaxing activities will work, too. For example, painting, gardening, or playing games. Whatever a student chooses as a way to relieve stress doesn’t matter; the most important thing is to stay away from academic work for as long as possible.
After the finals are finished, doing anything of importance or anything that requires too much thought will only cause the stress to grow. Students should go do spontaneous activities.
Students continuously pushing to succeed in exams will find success. Though it happens more than once a year and causes great stress and anxiety, that doesn’t mean that high schoolers can’t push through it and come out on top. Even if the method chosen to relieve stress is simple, it will still be prosperous.
The only important thing to remember is that after having to take everything so seriously for weeks in advance, students should do things that they enjoy. They should reward themselves for the hard work that they put in to get a decent score.