May 6, 2025

With finals upcoming, students from as young as 12 to as old as 18 begin to feel the pressure. Do you take the finals or drop out of school to pursue a career at McDonald’s? The choice is hard. However, it is imperative that students with the goal of graduating from high school and pursuing a steady career do well on these finals. Although not everyone has the goal of being a straight A student (which is completely normal and fine), everyone still has a desire to at least pass their finals and get on with summer (or college). This raises the question: What is the best way to stay sane and prepare for a week of final exams?

The last weeks of school prove to be most tempting to procrastinate and just get everything done; in the long run, though, this can actually do more harm than good. Although students do not need to do all 4th-semester homework weeks before it’s due, it is always wise to get any homework done ahead of finals time. The last one to two weeks of school should be spent focusing on studying for finals. You do not realize how intensive finals are until you sit down and start taking them, so leave plenty of time to study. With all the modern-day distractions of phones and TVs, it seems nearly impossible to just sit and focus on studying, but think of it as a challenge. Do whatever is necessary to eliminate distractions. Put your phone in another room, find a quiet place to work, or if you concentrate better with music, find something to listen to that keeps you motivated. Take one week out of 52 and choose to devote that time to getting a passing grade. 

As teenagers, I know that sleep may seem like an optional part of our life; why get 8 hours of sleep when you can scroll on TikTok or play video games for the whole night? But sleep is a crucial part of getting through finals week. A lack of sleep not only causes tremendous stress and mood swings, but it also makes it increasingly difficult to study for upcoming tests. According to the Better Health Channel, the ideal amount of sleep for teens is around 8-10 hours a night, with young students on average only getting 6.5 hours. This connects back to the idea of studying ahead of time to avoid cramming at the last minute. Instead of procrastinating and staying up late to study, go to sleep around 10 pm and focus on conserving energy. 

Each student has the opportunity to perform to the best of their ability on their exams. Avoiding procrastination and getting good rest is a good place to start. Staying relaxed, taking breaks, and getting fresh air and sunshine will also contribute to a successful final exam week. As with most things in life, stress and worry will not contribute to a positive outcome. Work hard, stay focused, and say a prayer, and exam week will be smooth sailing.