With the holidays quickly approaching, so is finals season, and students are rushing to catch up on the mountain of work for every class.
Having only two weeks to prepare to take, arguably, some of the most important tests in high school can create an overstressed sleepy but energy drink-fueled student body.
However, if finals were at the end of January students would be able to better manage their time while maintaining sanity.
Those who procrastinate every assignment have a mountain of missing work with no time to complete them.
January finals would reduce their stress by a lot. Students would have around an extra month to prepare to take their tests.
The first half of winter break would be spent with family celebrating the holidays while the second half could be spent going over notes and making flashcards. The break provides an opportunity to catch up while simultaneously getting a much needed breather in between the year.
December is known as “heart attack season” with high school students as a whole significantly increasing their caffeine intake. According to heart.org, recent research shows energy drinks affect blood vessel function. Blood vessels’ ability to expand is reduced, preventing efficient blood flow.
The all-nighters combined with excessive caffeine not only create health risks, but also reduces the effectiveness of the studying.
This double negative hurts students in the long run. Being able to study for the first half of break alone would lessen late night cram sessions, ultimately aiding in students’ success.
Going back to even semesters would lighten everyone’s load in the long run. The benefits overrule the negatives and making the switch would make the most sense.