Purple Haze
Midterm resolutions
By Elizabeth Thomas

January 6, 2011

___With a yawn and a sigh, some Northern students returned to school sleepy after being forced to rise from their warm beds at six in the morning. It can sometimes be difficult to slide back into the usual school routine, especially when the first topic of the day involves study plans for midterms.
___Mid-terms are often a pivotal point in a high school student’s year. Teachers usually expect students to push their hardest until they’ve reached that halfway mark, and this can bring many different reactions. For some, midterms means stress, especially for those who like to procrastinate and cram the night before. For others, it’s a chance to boost their grades and start off the third marking period on a happier note.
___Since the exams will take place on January 19th and 20th, some will take advantage of the time and begin preparing right away. English, math, social studies, and science are the core subjects tested, and the exams are usually worth about 20% of the student’s grade. It’s no wonder that some students stress over this time of the year.
___It could be considered ironic that midterms occur right after New Year’s, because students have the opportunity to make it a New Year’s resolution. While some students haven’t given a thought to resolutions, others seem determined to make this year better by raising their grades, and they can start with the exams and a new marking period.
___For those who stress over this time, some strategies would be to study in advance, because being prepared early will eliminate procrastination. It can also be helpful to relax before a big test, which can be done by getting plenty of sleep. ___Midterms don’t have to be stressful unless they are treated that way, and some people find that by making them a resolution, they create a goal to be accomplished.