As the sun stays out longer, temperatures are rising, and the smell of summer is practically in the air. There is one final obstacle standing in our way: finals week. It is that strange time of year where we have one eye on our textbooks and the other on the clock, counting down the minutes until freedom. Everyone knows the struggles of staying focused while everyone else seems to be enjoying freedom, so I have decided to check in with multiple students of each grade level. From secret traditions to big plans waiting for us all after the final bell, here is how a freshmen, sophomore, and a junior survive this last stretch of school.

For Dominic Lungaro, finishing his first year of high school feels like a major milestone. When asked about transitions from junior high to high school, he mentioned that it felt good. He stated that, “People always make high school seem so difficult. My days are fun with great classes and companions.” It was not all easy because of the pressure of never having a finals week, but Dominic had found a way to survive. Dominic’s secret to keeping the energy high is a “good luck snack” which happens to be my personal favorite a Culver’s chicken sandwich. To keep his priorities straight, Dominic is already blasting summer music. A preferred song of his is “The Way Life Goes” by Lil Uzi Vert. He states listening to him while going on with his day makes the time fly. Even though exams are fairly new, his plans for when the last  bell rings are simple. He states, “Planning a giant party is the first thing happening for sure.” It is a great reminder that hard work will pay off in a short time.

Now that sophomores are all pro at navigating the hallways, Mikey Urbaniak has a much more relaxed approach to the end of the year. They have moved past the “newcomer” worries and developed a study schedule that works for him. Mikey states, “I try my best but finding pretests helps me out so much.” When the library gets too crowded, Mikey does not push off studying, he goes to the quietest place he knows which is his basement. Mikey’s basement allows his to get things done in peace. Of course, even the best students eventually run into a wall. When the brain fog sets in, Mikey does not panic. Instead, he goes to take a break and hangout with his friend Mo. This perfect balance of hard work and mental breaks is exactly what all students need to reach the finish line. The second the last test bell rings, he is headed straight out the door and going to Chick Fil A with his friends to mark the start of their summer break.

Junior Year is widely known as the most intense year, but Costel is staying focused by paying attention to the big picture. What keeps him happy throughout his busy last couple of weeks is looking into the future and focusing on the path he wants to take. He continues to stay motivated by choosing to focus on positive steps to becoming a better person, instead of getting put down by negative workload. To balance the need to study with the need to go out and enjoy the weather, Costel makes schoolwork the priority so he can enjoy his time guilt free. “I try and get all my work done before I leave and go anywhere else with my friends or family,” he explains, nothing but paying close attention can help him get ahead of the curve. Costel’s secret to staying sharp is a study and go method that keeps him from feeling stuck at the desk. He enjoys going for walks and listening to prerecorded lessons, which help keep his brain moving while on the go. He finds that when he starts a deep study session later on the topics come back to him and are easier to understand. Once the finals are over, Costel plans to take a moment to reflect on the school year and realize how it was not so bad as long as he tried. Costel is looking forward to feeling of success and that he tried his absolute best this year.

Whether you are a freshman experiencing your first final or a junior like Costel pushing the hardest year of them all, the freedom count down is something everyone is doing together. Finals week is just the temporary struggle for a short period until the best months of the year arrive. Before you know it, the books will be closed, the test will be over, and summer will finally be here. Good luck to you all, we will see you at the finish line.