Almost Second Semester, What Does That Mean?

There are few days on the academic calendar that many people eagerly anticipate. Besides the all-school assemblies and days reserved for teacher workshops (like yesterday), most students don’t have much to look forward to when they have school nearly every day for nine months.

But there’s something exciting about this Friday, Jan. 20.

After what most kids would call “hell-week,” the first academic semester finally comes to a close in just a few days. Essays are printed and stapled, scantron tests are rapidly going through the grading machine, and extra credit is being emailed minutes before the deadline. With the grades closing, students at Weston High are scraping for that last push.

But what else comes with the end of the semester? For many students the biggest excitement is the change in courses and the new opportunities that come with electives and certain semester classes. I personally am not taking any new arts, but Modern Literature II sounds pretty interesting. With the physical education system at the school, many students are finding their frees taken away or given back depending on which grade they are in. Second semester schedules bring little change in actuality, but why is there so much excitement?

That can be the result of two things--privileges that the administration gives to students in good standing and the amazing, outstanding, untouchable feeling of being a senior. For the class of 2012, gaining senior privileges and (for many) getting into college already have given us some serious reasons for celebrating. I think everyone can agree the best times of their high school years were those spent second semester senior year. Sorry underclassmen, you’ll have to wait your turn.

Second semester brings spring and sunshine and the feeling of no-stress. But is that effect immediate? I mean, it is still only January ...

What is important for everyone to remember is that we can’t jump for too much joy just yet. When I say “we,” class of 2012, I mean us. Who will tell us when that switching point is? When we can turn on the bliss button and enjoy a carefree senior year? Many people will agree with me in saying it won’t be coming on Friday. We still have work to do and we can’t let loose just yet. Many people have to keep working hard in their schoolwork to avoid putting their college acceptances in any jeopardy. That isn’t so carefree now, is it?

I think what will be even more important than maintaining GPAs in our second semester will be to maintain our relationships with each other and juice every drop out of this high school fruit before it’s gone for good. Second semester will be what we make it. So don’t mess it up! (No stress.) Talk to that teacher you had in freshman physics. Go to the basketball games and scream some encouragement. Buy some last-minute school attire at the school store and maybe even some candy. Take that last bus ride (or not) and remember that it was always the little things that got us through the day when we started off (seemingly eons ago) in freshman year.