By:Gabriel Ahmed
As the school year comes to a close, grades become more and more important to the students who may have put off work until now. For many, this is the time to lock in and actually do the school work presented. From study tips to good habits to get into, this article will take a deep dive into ways to end the school year most effectively.
It is becoming more and more common for students to have schoolwork as their last priority when it comes to everything in life, and it is becoming more clear that it is because of time management and stress. For new students entering high school (Freshman), it can be very difficult to manage seven or more classes at a time, especially because of the workload difference from middle school. In a way, middle school is there to prepare you for your highschool years, but a lot of students have to learn time management and discipline on their own. High school is a whole different pace and structure from middle school which is what throws many off when they first start. One of the biggest changes is that grades and GPA have a big impact on your high school career and your years after high school. In New Mexico, one needs to be passing all classes with a 60% (a D-) or higher to receive a credit of completion and successfully move on to the next year. This can be very stressful for students as some don't work well with the structure schools provide. Many students have had to figure out ways to do their work in the way they prefer best which can be hard to figure out.
A poll of around 80 students was conducted on whether or not they had all passing grades, only about 74% of which confirmed they had sufficient grades. This shows that many students underestimate the workload and pressure high school would present to them. Many said they used software including chat gpt, photomath etc. to help them with their work which can lead to students doing the work but getting nothing out of it. The poll also showed that the underclassmen tended to use more AI software than the upperclassmen. “I find that using AI software like chat gpt doesn’t help me in the long run, especially come finals time,” said Demetri Smith, a Junior at Sandia High. This shows that using AI can be a good tool, only temporarily. Like many students, Smith would do well on everyday assignments, but would struggle on tests because he relied too heavily on AI to assist him.
When it came down to the most effective ways to study and the most effective ways to get good grades on tests, Cynthia Magoffe, a freshman honors English teacher, said that studying was by far the best way to keep information in your head. “It is super easy and only takes minutes every day to do,” said Magoffe. She also expressed that creating flash cards or memory games is very helpful for many students to do as it challenges their brains to remember what they are studying. All in all, it comes down to the work ethic of the student and how much they want to succeed without taking the easy way out, which in many scenarios is what kids are leaning towards. Even though the school year is coming to an end and even though this part of the year can be stressful for many, it is important to look back at the success and the accomplishments of this school year. With summer break nearing in just a few months, students will get a break from the school environment and will have time to refresh their minds for another year of torture.
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