Finals are arriving at Karns High School quickly this month; finals are an exam that each class is required to have and it comes in different forms, presentations, mainly tests, essays, etc. First and second period finals are Wednesday, December 17 and third and fourth period finals are Thursday, December 18. If a student misses one of the final days they have a makeup day which is Friday, December 19. Students are studying in their own ways. Seniors who have a 75 or better don’t have to take finals in their classes.
Freshmen have never taken finals before and one freshman girl shared that finals feel more serious than any tests she had taken in middle school. She is working to understand how to study, handle time management, and the pressure for the first time. She’s trying to prepare in a way that helps her from getting stressed.
“My goal is to start early so I don’t have to rush the weekend before,” Abigail Freeman said, “I’ve never done finals before, so I’m kind of worried and stressed.”
More familiar with finals, Sophomores are approaching the weeks with more confidence, but more pressure as they were as a freshman. One sophomore said the difference between last year and this year is noticeable. He added that even though some classes feel easier, he is still worried about chemistry.
“Last year I had no idea what finals were like,” Braden Thomas said, “This year I know what to expect.”
For juniors, finals add to what is considered the hardest and most academically challenging year in high school. With harder classes and schoolwork, along with early college preparation, finals bring more pressure than ever. Despite the stress, she has already started reviewing her notes and textbook pages and being more organized. She said beginning early helps her stay on track.
“Junior year is difficult during finals because there’s a lot more going on,” Natalia Armani said, “I’ve learned to study a little bit for 5-10 minutes every day. Don’t wait until the last week before finals to study.”
Some seniors might not have to take every final because of the senior exemption policy. One senior shared that the possibility of being exempt from certain finals has made these couple of weeks less stressful.
“I might be excused from some classes, and that definitely makes finals less stressful,” Evan Scheib, “I don’t feel any pressure to get things done, since I have a 75 or better in almost every class.”
Finals week impacts every grade differently. From the nervous freshmen, to seniors who are almost done with high school exams. Even with their different levels of stress, all grades share similar themes: a desire to study to be prepared, try their best, and be hopeful to end the semester on a strong note. As finals draw closer and closer, students across all grades are noting that studying and being prepared matter just as much as the exams themselves.
