By Claire Fagan, Features Editor
As students return from spring break and begin fourth quarter, the River Hill community is beginning to notice the change in seasons. Students have mixed opinions on this transition, with different fears and hopes for the future.
When asked about the transition, junior Smera Singh says, “I think it’s kind of abrupt, at least for me. I don’t see it coming until it’s actually too hot outside to wear my sweatpants and my hoodies.” Especially in Maryland, weather on the cusp of spring can be unpredictable, ranging from a bitter 30 degrees to a sweltering 80.
Many students, like junior Kathryn Wieber, prefer the winter because there are “no bugs, it’s snow, it’s peaceful, it’s quiet.” Kathryn appreciates the calm of winter, and doesn’t look forward to the complications that being outside in spring brings.
While the uncertainty at the beginning of spring can be annoying, some students have other concerns. Senior Elizabeth Fu comments, “I hate spring. I have bad allergies, my eyes tear up and I get runny noses.” Increased pollen in the air is irritating to many, especially those who participate in sports and try to maximize time spent outside in the warm weather.
In contrast, junior Divya Kumar likes the warmer weather and uses it as a mechanism to promote her productivity. She explains, “When it’s nicer out, I’m more motivated to study and if I study more, then I can go outside.” By keeping herself from enjoying the sunshine until her work is done, Divya ensures she can keep up with her course load.
Divya’s tactic should be especially useful going into the fourth quarter as AP and finals studying begins to intensify. Despite this additional commitment outside of school many students will be making, Kathryn believes that “teachers will still give me continuous FRQs. I don’t think it’s going to get easier.” Junior Shirley Zhang agrees, commenting, “I think there are a lot of things that people feel like they need to tie up by the end of the year which is contributing to large levels of sadness.”
While schoolwork may be overwhelming right now, it is important to realize that the end is in sight. Senior Tyler Owens comments that spring is “the lead into summer break and you know, I’m going off to college next year so I’m really psyched about that.” Students have put in 3 quarters of hard work, and soon it will all be paying off as the year comes to a close.
Despite all of the school stress, Divya concludes that spring remains a season of optimism because “there’s a lot of opportunity for growth in spring, like spring cleaning. You can give yourself hope.” In spring, River Hill students will find ways to enjoy the warmer weather and relax in the ways that bring them the most energy.
From cherry blossoms to sunny days to AP exams and finals, the spring season is a very mixed bag. However, spring is nature’s rebirth, so while it might be cheesy, students have a great potential to improve themselves and care for themselves this spring. Do your best to look on the bright side and enjoy everything you can about this season.