By Lux Sheplee, Staff Writer
As spring break comes to an end, summer is right around the corner. The last quarter of school, signifying the arrival of warmer weather and summer break, sparks excitement for students at River Hill High School. Despite this, stress levels for many students remain high due to AP tests and finals. Juniors also have SAT, ACT, and college applications to complete.
Addyson Miller, a junior, describes the anxiety she exhibits about approaching the fourth quarter. Despite nerve-racking events, Addyson is looking forward to the sunshine and rising temperatures in this last stretch of school. “I am feeling very stressed after the last quarter, and I feel like I had a very heavy workload between assignments and tests during the third quarter. I am stressed about AP tests this quarter, but I am also looking forward to the warm weather.”
River Hill’s starting pitcher and first baseman for varsity baseball, Henry Zatkowski, explains his struggles with both school and sports for the final quarter. “I would say I’m more stressed due to AP exams coming up and the baseball season getting closer to playoffs, but it’s nice to know that we’re almost at the end.” With a break in sight, many students are able to stay motivated knowing that the school year will come to an end soon.
Sophomore Zoe Pachoca has similar feelings to Addyson and Henry. She reinforces how students hang on for the last few months before vacations and a well deserved break arrives. Zoe explains that she “feels more stressed because some classes are getting harder and having to end off with finals, but relieved that this is the end of the school year.”
Offering a different perspective, junior Hasan Mirasyedi feels that this quarter will be easier than others. “Coming up to this last quarter I feel a lot less stressed as classes start to lighten up around this time making it a lot more enjoyable.” Hasan looks forward to a less demanding workload in his classes, and comments that he’ll be “enjoying summer before you know it.”
Freshman Avi Fields agrees with Hasan’s perspective toward the last quarter as he explains, “I feel that last quarter was pretty easy because I didn’t have much work in my classes. I’m hoping for the 4th quarter to also be easy because I really had no stress about any of my classes.” Grade levels definitely influence the amount of stress experienced in classes, as juniors worry about college and tend to have more rigorous classes than other grades.
The 2022-2023 school year has been more difficult for students at River Hill than the previous years. Last school year there were no midterms, and coming back from lockdown teachers were very lenient. The 2020 -2021 school year was online with no midterms or finals. While tensions are high for these final few months of school, light is seen at the end of the tunnel. Fun summer days with warm weather, vacation, and relaxation are a great way to follow up a stressful school year for River Hill students.
As spring break comes to an end, summer is right around the corner. The last quarter of school, signifying the arrival of warmer weather and summer break, sparks excitement for students at River Hill High School. Despite this, stress levels for many students remain high due to AP tests and finals. Juniors also have SAT, ACT, and college applications to complete.
Addyson Miller, a junior, describes the anxiety she exhibits about approaching the fourth quarter. Despite nerve-racking events, Addyson is looking forward to the sunshine and rising temperatures in this last stretch of school. “I am feeling very stressed after the last quarter, and I feel like I had a very heavy workload between assignments and tests during the third quarter. I am stressed about AP tests this quarter, but I am also looking forward to the warm weather.”
River Hill’s starting pitcher and first baseman for varsity baseball, Henry Zatkowski, explains his struggles with both school and sports for the final quarter. “I would say I’m more stressed due to AP exams coming up and the baseball season getting closer to playoffs, but it’s nice to know that we’re almost at the end.” With a break in sight, many students are able to stay motivated knowing that the school year will come to an end soon.
Sophomore Zoe Pachoca has similar feelings to Addyson and Henry. She reinforces how students hang on for the last few months before vacations and a well deserved break arrives. Zoe explains that she “feels more stressed because some classes are getting harder and having to end off with finals, but relieved that this is the end of the school year.”
Offering a different perspective, junior Hasan Mirasyedi feels that this quarter will be easier than others. “Coming up to this last quarter I feel a lot less stressed as classes start to lighten up around this time making it a lot more enjoyable.” Hasan looks forward to a less demanding workload in his classes, and comments that he’ll be “enjoying summer before you know it.”
Freshman Avi Fields agrees with Hasan’s perspective toward the last quarter as he explains, “I feel that last quarter was pretty easy because I didn’t have much work in my classes. I’m hoping for the 4th quarter to also be easy because I really had no stress about any of my classes.” Grade levels definitely influence the amount of stress experienced in classes, as juniors worry about college and tend to have more rigorous classes than other grades.
The 2022-2023 school year has been more difficult for students at River Hill than the previous years. Last school year there were no midterms, and coming back from lockdown teachers were very lenient. The 2020 -2021 school year was online with no midterms or finals. While tensions are high for these final few months of school, light is seen at the end of the tunnel. Fun summer days with warm weather, vacation, and relaxation are a great way to follow up a stressful school year for River Hill students.