DE-STRESSING:
I honestly cannot believe how fast time has flown. It seems like yesterday I was dragging myself out of bed for the first day of school . . . but here we are, at the end of the first quarter already!
The week right before grades went in was incredibly hectic, with teachers scheduling last-minute tests and assignments so we could get as many grades in as possible. I know I definitely felt a wee bit (read: a lot) stressed during this time. However, I’ve discovered that there are some great ways to de-stress and still be productive, instead of ignoring your problems and responsibilities until they cause a massive issue.
First of all, do not procrastinate. This is a struggle for most students. Trust me. I know. I try to finish my homework as soon as possible and start my projects earlier. This may be slightly annoying at the moment, but it absolutely helps so much in the long run. For instance, you’ll have less stress the night before if you were ready for your presentation beforehand, and, if you have a couple of tests the next day in addition to your project, you’ll have more time to study for those . . . which segues nicely into my next point.
Study. Study for easy tests. Study for hard tests. Especially if you are taking several Honors or AP classes, studying will seriously aid you in raising your grade (and I mean, c’mon, that’s kind of obvious). Studying and doing well on the simple tests and quizzes gives you easy hundreds, something you’ll need if you have a class with a challenging teacher (for example: anyone in Ms. McBrinn’s classes knows you need to do well on the Weekly Words quizzes and etymology quizzes if you want to do well and boost your grade). Additionally, it’s obviously important to study and prepare for major tests as well, especially tests with many dates or theories; history requires much memorization of dates and people and trends, and science (I am currently taking chemistry) demands application of various laws and theorems.
As a last little tidbit, I’d like to add that music can be very helpful. Many people use it as background or “white” noise to block out any other sounds. I get distracted very easily, so I can’t listen to anything with lyrics as I study, but I’ve found that instrumental music or classical music is an excellent substitute. Make a playlist of your favorite study songs, or do what I usually do: be lazy and search the Internet for someone who has already made one!
The year has barely begun; don’t freak out any more than you have to. Remember to take the initiative in completing assignments early, study for all your classes, and, if you’re having trouble concentrating, pull up a playlist and start studying with renewed vigor to the beat of Mozart (hey, don’t knock it 'til you’ve tried it).
- Victoria Schneller '16
I honestly cannot believe how fast time has flown. It seems like yesterday I was dragging myself out of bed for the first day of school . . . but here we are, at the end of the first quarter already!
The week right before grades went in was incredibly hectic, with teachers scheduling last-minute tests and assignments so we could get as many grades in as possible. I know I definitely felt a wee bit (read: a lot) stressed during this time. However, I’ve discovered that there are some great ways to de-stress and still be productive, instead of ignoring your problems and responsibilities until they cause a massive issue.
First of all, do not procrastinate. This is a struggle for most students. Trust me. I know. I try to finish my homework as soon as possible and start my projects earlier. This may be slightly annoying at the moment, but it absolutely helps so much in the long run. For instance, you’ll have less stress the night before if you were ready for your presentation beforehand, and, if you have a couple of tests the next day in addition to your project, you’ll have more time to study for those . . . which segues nicely into my next point.
Study. Study for easy tests. Study for hard tests. Especially if you are taking several Honors or AP classes, studying will seriously aid you in raising your grade (and I mean, c’mon, that’s kind of obvious). Studying and doing well on the simple tests and quizzes gives you easy hundreds, something you’ll need if you have a class with a challenging teacher (for example: anyone in Ms. McBrinn’s classes knows you need to do well on the Weekly Words quizzes and etymology quizzes if you want to do well and boost your grade). Additionally, it’s obviously important to study and prepare for major tests as well, especially tests with many dates or theories; history requires much memorization of dates and people and trends, and science (I am currently taking chemistry) demands application of various laws and theorems.
As a last little tidbit, I’d like to add that music can be very helpful. Many people use it as background or “white” noise to block out any other sounds. I get distracted very easily, so I can’t listen to anything with lyrics as I study, but I’ve found that instrumental music or classical music is an excellent substitute. Make a playlist of your favorite study songs, or do what I usually do: be lazy and search the Internet for someone who has already made one!
The year has barely begun; don’t freak out any more than you have to. Remember to take the initiative in completing assignments early, study for all your classes, and, if you’re having trouble concentrating, pull up a playlist and start studying with renewed vigor to the beat of Mozart (hey, don’t knock it 'til you’ve tried it).
- Victoria Schneller '16