As daylight slips away and work starts to pile up, Maggie Walker begins to run rife with the end-of-semester blues. For freshmen, sophomores, juniors, and seniors alike, the end of the first semester brings plenty of stressors. Trying to manage college application deadlines (for seniors), late assignments, final exams, and, of course, the pressing task of celebrating the holidays can often be a difficult balancing act. 

For many freshmen, the first semester of high school presented a challenging learning curve. Reflecting on the first two quarters, Owen Martin (‘28) said, “I feel good, but there are a couple of places I need to work on.” Most notably, Martin remarked that he “definitely procrastinated more than [he] should have.” This theme of procrastination is distinctly popular among other students as well. For Liv Chambers (‘28), the most stressful part of the end of the semester was “late assignments. They’re definitely my worst habit.” Still, when asked about her feelings about going into the second semester, Chambers commented, “I’m feeling better about it, because I know what I need to work on now.”

While the fall and winter seasons always bring a mix of feelings of overwork, anxiety, and stress, sophomore Isabella Whelan said she “definitely feels more prepared than last year, despite all the tests and projects coming up.” However, juniors, who oftentimes take more challenging courses like Advanced Placement or Dual-Enrollment, have their GPAs to worry about. They may feel increased pressure, while trying to balance the difficult course-load and maintaining good grades. Samuel Dong (‘26) said, “I’m pretty anxious about all my grades for the end of the first [semester], and a lot of my teachers have been packing on the tests and the quizzes.” 

For seniors, who must prioritize applying to college in addition to keeping up with their schoolwork, the workload may be even heavier. Martina Ribera’s (‘25) first semester was “pretty hectic. Getting into the groove of a year is always difficult.” She added, “Of course, college applications were a big factor of my stress, but luckily, I was able to work hard earlier in the year, and I’m a little more relaxed now.” 

The end of the semester doesn’t just mean endless tests, quizzes, and papers. Between clubs, plays, performances, and holiday celebrations, there are still moments of light and happiness amidst the chaos. While discussing positive moments from the first semester, Chambers exclaimed, “I’m super excited for the school play! I hope to participate in it next year.” Dong added, “I really enjoy all my extracurriculars, so they’re a way for me to destress.” As seniors near the end of their penultimate semester of high school, the light at the end of the tunnel shines even brighter. When asked what she was looking forward to in the second semester, Ribera said, “I can’t wait to be done with all my college applications, so senioritis can finally hit. It’ll be nice to enjoy the learning without worrying about what colleges will think.” 

Conversations with students around the school reveal mixed feelings about the end of the semester. For some, the blues are hitting hard and the stress of studying and keeping up with school work is nearing a peak. Others are more relaxed, and are able to look forward to winter break and the beginning of the second semester. Regardless, it is important to remember that even as the days get colder and the work gets harder, taking breaks, spending time with loved ones, and keeping a positive mindset are vital.