Is semester two any different from the first?

By: Elliot Simpson

The end of semester one brings in a whole new set of classes, teachers, subjects and assignments. For both students and teachers semester two is often a much needed change after five months of the same routine. However, is semester two really all that different? And if it is, what impact does it have on us?

Students were asked how they generally feel about semester two. Their stress levels, work ethics, and overall well being compared to the previous set of classes. Many similarities were made, especially when it came to stress. For a grade 12 student, semester two brings a new wave of stress and pressure. As many grade 12’s have already applied or even been accepted to colleges or universities, the expectation to maintain a certain average can be a frightening thing. Doing well is no longer an achievement, it can be the determining factor in whether or not a student gets into their preferred school. For those students not applying to post-secondary schools like an anonymous grade 11 student, semester two is a “change in the friends and teachers you usually see”, something that is “refreshing”.

For teachers, the stress is still there as well. Mr. Fogo was interviewed and his answers prove that students’ and teachers' feelings towards semester two are not completely different. While the stresses may be unique to his position as a teacher, Mr. Fogo still experiences them. A whole new set of classes and groups of students can be quite a large change. This semester, he teaches a course in which he was not taught in person before, something new for Mr. Fogo. While prepared and excited, it still takes some time to get comfortable with something so new.

As for the work ethic, it can vary from person to person. For those like the grade 12 students who have already applied to post-secondary, they push to excel more than ever. Another student also finds motivation with the thought of summer break right around the corner. It is only natural though that many students can lose sight and become less determined in these next five months. Over the years Mr. Fogo has noticed that students are usually a bit more stressed in semester two and that the quality of work can slightly diminish. “They take their foot off the gas pedal”, an unfortunate reality noted by Mr. Fogo. With the end of the school year so close, it is easy to lose track of time. Semester two can really “fly by” and will be finished before most people know it. Students can often get tired of the same routines, but Mr. Fogo expressed that students have spent so much time and effort already and should try to keep that effort until the very end.

Whether returning to school next year as a teacher or student, or leaving KCI, semester two marks the end of the “race” that takes up so much of our time. While the stress of performing well can lead many of us to feel defeated, it’s important not to lose track of the priorities we’ve set throughout our school careers. Semester two marks the beginning of the end of another school year, the last school year for a quarter of KCI students.