By Mackenna Stewart
Tis’ the season for exams…a time of delightful misery. I always think about how counterintuitive it is to have the stress of exams dawning over me during one of the happiest seasons ever. Nevertheless, there is a way to get through this exam season and speed straight into the freedom of Christmas break, and the key lies in your self-control.
The first rule and only rule of exam season is to “NOT CRASH OUT”! While the phrase crash out can take on many definitions, the one that fits the less than-likely situation of a high school student facing the stressors of final exams is, “to get really mad or upset; lose all your self-control.”
I caught senior Talen Frett multitasking, studying for exams, and working on some last-minute college matters in the college counseling offices. This type of focus, especially under the circumstances, can be a recipe for a crash out waiting to happen, however he broke down for me in 5 minutes how he stays calm, cool, and collected with the stressors of this time.
Talen’s 5 Takeaways in 5-minutes on Finals Season
Mackenna: Do you feel like you have a tendency to “crash out” during stressful or less than likely situations (Exams)?
Talen: [ponders] Actually, no. I mean, sometimes I will have internal moments or moments behind closed doors with my friends where you got to get it out. But overall, I think I am actually pretty good about keeping my demeanor calm.
Takeaway #1: It is perfectly okay to sometimes release frustration or be nervous about your finals and classes. Having a space to release these emotions, whether that be around your friends, family, or even solitarily is the key to surviving this stressful time.
Mackenna: So then how are you feeling about your upcoming exams?
Talen: I have a few exams and I think I have one or two final projects, and then I’m also keeping in the back of my mind that college decisions come out. Our first college decisions come out the literal day before our first exam, but I’m studying and I’m managing my time and keeping cool.
Takeaway #2: Managing time is the key to guarding against distractions and having an effective study period.
**An Intermission With Dr. Wall**
It is important to prioritize your studying and plan your week. “What is it you’re going to spend time on?” says Dr. Wall when asked about the importance of creating a plan. Studying in short spurts of time can be especially beneficial to the brain’s ability to retain information instead of having to rely on short-term memorization. She specifies that there are some classes that students may not put all of their time on. “If you know you’re good at languages, enjoy that.” But if “you know you’re going to have more challenges with science courses, be prepared for that,” says Dr. Wall. It is important to decide which classes require the most attention depending on the difficulty of the content and the student’s ability to understand it.
So then would you say you get nervous about exam season at all since you are able to remain so cool?
Talen: Yeah, I’d say I get nervous, but I think the natural amount of healthy nerves that are associated with exams.
Takeaway #3: Healthy nerves are a good thing!
What would you say the source of those nerves are from?
Talen: I want to be able to do good and I want to be able to show my teacher and myself that I’m very much capable, especially after putting in a long semester’s worth of work between tests and quizzes and labs or whatever, and then kind of having that final exam weight that much.
Takeaway #4: Look at the exam as an opportunity to show your capabilities and growth over the semester.
**An Intermission With Dr. Wall**
For those who struggle with test anxiousness and more general anxiety, Dr Wall believes it is important for students to remind themselves that “This test is unique. It’s here in the present.” To go a step further, she suggests that the student and the exam create a connection where every other assignment, test, quiz, or lab before this no longer matters in the sense that it defines your capabilities. When you are taking the test Dr Wall suggests students start on the part of the test that they are most comfortable with (ex: multiple choice). And from this place of comfort the goal is to pace yourself individually as you encounter and internalize the material on the exam that you have been studying all semester. “Enjoy the fact that this is your opportunity to express your mastery of the subject.” Dr. Wall says.
Are there any particular subjects that you’re really hoping to show growth and understanding of the material on the final exam?
Talen: I want to be able to show a lot of growth on my physics exam and my AP Lit exam. Our AP Lit exam is just writing heavy, but I want to be able to see if I can make a jump in my grades.
On a different note, because exam season is really in the middle of Christmas activities and this exciting socializing period, how do you balance your study time, with fun social activities?
Talen: I hang out with my friends, but I mean, also I know that I’m pretty good about being able to focus and stay in the house or just go to Barnes and Noble, at least until the exam season has ended.
Mackenna: So you enjoy studying at Starbucks and stuff like that?
Talen: Yes, definitely.
Takeaway #5: “Give your brain a break”
**An Intermission With Dr. Wall**
Nothing good comes out of sedentary studying and sitting in one place for hours at a time. You can give your brain a break by simply changing your scenery, having a snack, taking a nap, hanging out with friends, etc. By taking incremental brain breaks, you will prevent overworking yourself and change your overall disposition about your studying. Dr. Wall believes that when you study in a way that clicks with your mind, you may find that instead of complaining about studying, you will say, “I get to study,” and “I can feel good about that,” said Dr. Wall optimistically.
