Finals and Semester 2: A Message To Our Students!

Written by: Malaika Chaudhary

Edited by: Malaika Chaudhary

Feb 26th 2026

By the end of the semester, every student is beyond stressed; papers are flying, students are crying, nails are being bitten and teachers are rushing through the syllabus.

However, above all that, the StFX Newspaper Club wanted to spread an important message to its readers: there is nothing wrong with being afraid. There is nothing wrong with wanting to maintain your grade. However, there is something wrong with neglecting your health in order to balance either of those things out.

As opposed to pulling all-nighters or crying in bed–because nothing is more important than your wellbeing–here are some tips specifically curated for you:

1. Tie the content you have learned to something personal: You are in your chosen course for a reason. Make the content as digestible as possible, whether it be through turning your homework into a video game or taking different lessons and connecting them to something you read; make the content yours, and be sure to understand it in a way that’s unique to you.

2. Study in the mornings: If you would like to designate a specific amount of time to studying, don’t pull an all-nighter. Your brain will try to compensate for the lack of rest it received by turning you into a living zombie. Instead, review the content in the morning. This can take place over breakfast, on your way to school or during any free time you may allot for yourself.

3. Teach the content: If you don’t have anyone you can teach to, compensate for objects! If you put yourself in the role of the teacher, you’ll have an easier time understanding the content, and any concerns you may have will eventually make sense over time (as you begin to form your own independent explanations); if not, there’s no shame in asking for guidance the next day.

4. Do not leave everything for the last day: I understand that this is a no-brainer, but I mean it: you cannot process information as quickly as you’d like to if the only thing you’re focused on is getting through it as quickly as possible. If you do decide to leave everything for the last day, be sure to section the topics and pace yourself in case of any mistakes.

Exams are a stressful time for everybody. Luckily, this is the first half of a full school year, and there is more to this time than the stress that may come from school. Rest assured: you will be fine! We believe in you, and we can’t wait to see what comes of your efforts in the future.

Best of luck to us, the students, the teachers and the school!