As the semester ends, students find themselves overwhelmed by exams, final projects and tight deadlines. This workload can lead to high stress, anxiety and burnout, making it difficult for students to stay focused and perform at their best. Balancing these academic expectations and personal life can often feel impossible for students. Understanding these challenges and how teachers can support them is important for students’ success and well-being.
Math teacher Daniel Gebur said time management is one of the most important skills to have during the weeks leading up to finals. He said he acknowledges finals week’s challenges and is always available for his students.
“The biggest challenge my students face is just making time for everything, not just studying but also time for themselves to relax and do things they enjoy. They need time to recuperate mentally and spend time with their family and friends,” Gebur said. “I make sure that I’m always there for them if they need anything.”
Sophomore Griffin Hanson said finals negatively impact his anxiety levels. He said he is overwhelmed by assignments and the lack of time.
“I have noticed my stress is higher than normal because finals impact a large chunk of your grade and they’re all at once,” Hanson said. “It’s not spread out, everything at once makes me tired and stressed.”
Sophomore Ben Marckel said he’s looking at the bright side of finals week: Classes will ease into the new semester once tests are over.
“School has been stressful, but it’s nice to know that the end of the semester is coming up, and after next week, there’s not anything to worry about,” Marckel said.
According to Gebur, students visibly change their behavior because of their mental health. He said he ensures his students relax and focus on what’s important.
“I’ve noticed that some students get quieter and I can tell they’re tired. I’ve been through all of this, and I know what they are going through,” Gebur said. “A lot of the time I just let them relax because my stuff might not be as important as what’s on their minds right now.”
Hanson said when it comes to dealing with stress and anxiety, he recommends finding personal methods to destress.
“Just find ways that work for you. I make sure I do good work but also be quick so that everything doesn’t pile up. I also make time for my activities outside of school and relaxing,” Hanson said.
Marckel said he wants his teachers to be more accommodating to students. He said teachers should assign less busy work as there are more assignments.
“I feel like teachers should give more time to study and fewer new assignments so we can focus on what’s most important,” Marckel said. “I wish they would understand everything we have to do and give us time to relax instead of stacking everything up.”
Gebur said he encourages his students to talk to him if they need to, and tries to help as much as he can.
“I always encourage my students to talk to me whenever they need help,” Gebur said. “I always try to have as many resources as possible available for them.”
Hanson said teachers could help with stress by providing more time for relaxation. He said they should understand a student’s hefty workload.
“I would like (it) if teachers understand everything we have going on and give us more time to relax,” Hanson said. “We need time to think and recuperate instead of them piling on more work.”