Sitting in the middle of a field after a storm, hearing the thunder in the background; seeing the dew on the grass and trees. A slight breeze in your hair. Mud on your shoes and clothes. The sky is gloomy and you can sometimes see the lightning hitting in the distance. The air is a little thick with moisture and the trees and flowers are swaying in the wind. Even though the cliche is, “The calm before the storm,” shouldn’t it really be the calm after the storm?
Similar to the first semester of school, leading up to a storm people are running around stressed, scared, and filled with anxiety. Many are trying to get organized and prepared for the storm, while also trying to make sure themselves and everyone they care about are going to be okay. Towards the beginning of the school year students are filled with anxiety as the first day of school creeps around the corner. Students, parents and faculty are running around trying to get ready for school, gathering supplies, buying clothes, and worrying about school schedules. In the second semester of the school year people already have everything they need in order to succeed.
Second semester may have more work assignment’s wise, but content wise the first quarter wins by a long shot. Roman’s idea that “you don’t have many things to worry about” in the first semester is a misconception. If anything you barely have anything to worry about in the second semester because most of the work and tests assigned are repetition of everything you have already learned. Second semester is basically used as a refresher course for everything you already know. After you finish doing the refresh, you take a state test which at the end of the day doesn’t count against you unless your teacher puts in extra points based on your score. After you finish all state tests you have a good two weeks to yourself, so that you don’t have to worry about anything other than the fact that summer is creeping around the corner.
Second semester also helps many athletes have a mental and physical break. In the first semester many athletes have a hard time keeping up due to having to deal with sports practices while also managing school along with home life. Sports in second semester are also easier because the weather conditions they practice in are better. By the time spring sports come around the weather is warm yet not to warm where you will sweat a river. If that isn’t enough to convince you that second semester is better then also consider the fact that prom is also during second semester. Prom is also another way to say farewell to the seniors and congratulate the juniors for making it this far.
Second semester is better because it alleviates the stress put on yourself knowing that the storm is almost over. Less work, better weather, and more freedom, to me at least that sounds like the best.
