We're halfway through the school year and that means summer is right around the corner. (Well, kind of.) Everyone is eager for those long, serene summer days full of warmth and relaxation and just knowing that we're almost there is a huge relief, but we can't just throw our hands up in the air and lay back yet. Halfway through the school year also means midterms. Oh boy, who doesn't love midterm week? Whether you were ready or not, midterms came and there's no way to escape. 

During the last week in January, midterms take over. Students take a test in subjects such as math, science, English, social studies, and language. Midterms test students on what they have learned from the beginning of the school year, which is what makes them stressful. In order to prepare students, teachers hold review sessions after school for certain topics, but mostly it's up to students to make sure to review material and prepare on their own.  Also, midterms don't just count as a test grade, but most are weighed as two test grades. 

You can see why students worry so much. Gabe Silva (10th grade student at MHS) said, "It's stressful and too much pressure. I don't even get 8 hours of sleep because of all the studying. I feel that we should get the whole week off instead of having school before the midterms, that way I can prepare myself with a lot of time on my hands and I don't have to stay up all night cramming everything into my head."  However, nothing is impossible and midterms can be manageable. Even though these tests cause our brains to explode and we only get 3-4 hours of sleep, they exist to benefit us. Chelsea Ramos (10th grader) said, "I think having midterms is beneficial, but it could also be a stresser. While it's stressful to prepare for, it could also help to show where you are in the course and highlight what you need to work on." We all know that the point of having midterms is to prepare us for Regents and APs. In addition, these tests help to improve our skills and are designed to develop our perseverance.

Personally, the midterms makes me anxious and I feel like I'm destined to confront doom. However, I tend to forget that it's okay to be nervous and that I'm not alone. Many students get frustrated and have moments in which they claim to "go blank." According to Hannah Kolsch (10 grader), "I think that midterms aren't as bad as they seem. For me, it wasn't as difficult as I thought it would be. Midterms greatly benefit us because they help improve studying and test-taking skills and retaining of information." This is what I often forget. Midterm tests generally last for 3 hours and once those 3 hours are over, we're free. We can finally rise above the ocean and take a refreshing breath of air. We congratulate ourselves for making it through the week and the long hours of studying seemed to pay off. Matteo Itri (12th grader) said, "Midterms are a good representation of how much a student is learning. I say this because each specific teacher designs the midterms to assess their students on how much they learned in that class. Unlike the common core exams, these tests are individually designed to fit the curriculum of a class." He makes a good point. The results give teachers and students information, letting them know what students need to work on to do their best on finals, regents, and APs at the end of the year. 11th grader Joanne Kubat agreed and said, "The midterms make me more stressed than I would ever want. I stress over regular tests, but the stress when it comes to midterms is greater because I know it's on everything and counts for more, but I also like them since they help me know what to expect for the Regents." 

For students, midterms build up pressure and fear, but in the end it's meant to benefit us. Whether we score well or not on the midterms, they still benefit us since we can see what we learned and what we need to improve on. Midterms are just a part of the long journey to academic success. And remember, we ARE halfway to summer…