Finals week is a busy time. With studying, planning for winter break and trying to get in the holiday spirit, it can be hard to focus on one thing. However, a closer look at the finals schedule reveals an extra two hours of first period on Wednesday and Thursday. Although the extra period seems useless, it exists because of state requirements, and students can use it in productive and beneficial ways.
1. Spend time with friends
The most obvious choice is to hang out with friends. Finals are tough, and December is a stressful month for all. This period offers a time to wind down and catch up with friends, to discuss or make holiday arrangements or stress over grades together. Sometimes, a conversation with a buddy makes things unexpectedly better.
However, some unfortunate students might not have friends in their first period class. But they have good options, too.
2. Study more
Even during finals season, many extracurricular activities go on, and some find it difficult to find time to study. For such people, a free two hours is a dream. After the extra period, the finals for second, sixth, fourth and fifth periods remain, so there is a lot of studying left to do. The first period on Wednesday is the perfect time to do it.
3. Sleep
Sleep is one of the biggest problems facing teens today. “Devoted” students often neglect their sleep, leading to poor performance and mood swings. For those who did not get enough sleep the day before, first period on Thursday offers a perfect opportunity to take a pregame nap before the second period. Of course, students should sleep at night, not at the beginning of the school day, but desperate problems call for desperate measures.
4. Take a walk
When the school forces a student to stay inside a classroom for two full hours, something strange happens. The school campus suddenly becomes interesting. The air becomes more refreshing, the sky prettier and the grass greener. A short walk around the school grounds can suddenly be very enjoyable. In the earlier parts of the period, the cool morning breeze welcomes campus walkers. Later in the period, towards the afternoon, the ocean may be visible from the stairs next to the counseling building. Students can also grab refreshments from the vending machines on campus.
5. Memorize everything
Two hours is a long time, and if one really wants to make sure that they get a good grade on the next test, what better thing to do than just memorize everything? It is pretty hard to mess something up when it is already drilled into your brain.
6. Find your friends
The school schedule may have separated you from friends, but that isn’t going to stop you from finding them anyway. Bring a campus map, peek into classrooms and mark down the location of every friend you see. That way, if first period ever gets boring you know where to go.
7. Side hustle
Here’s another outside activity: look for scattered coins. That way, you can physically see the rewards of your stroll. You may not have studied enough, but at least you can say that you walked out of school a few cents richer than before.
