After almost two years, the midterms are back, and just as winter break becomes a distant memory, midterm stress begins to surge little by little. The midterms, which will be held in the last week of January, on the 26th-28th and then on the following Monday the 31st, cause a lot of stress and anxiety within students of all ages. Are the midterms more helpful or more harmful? We interviewed Assistant Principal Mrs. Kwiatkowski and Head of Counseling Department Ms. Shadis about what they think. 

According to Mrs. K: “The idea of having a really big assessment can be daunting. However, that being said, I do agree with the fact that our students are going to experience this type of assessment going forward. And I would never want a student to leave here and say, I have no idea what that’s going to feel like or be like. I want our students to be in a great position going into college.”

Ms.Shadis agreed that even though the midterms are stressful, having long exams like these will help students in the long run: “Yes and no, it’s a hard question to answer. I know it’s a cause of a lot of stress. So obviously for the emotional part of it, no. But from the academic part, there are still many, many colleges that just rely on big tests, midterms, finals, things of that sort.”.

There are many ways students can cope with the stress of midterms and be more prepared for them. 

Ms.Shadis told us, “right after the holiday break is usually when [midterm stress] kicks in or at least it had before the pandemic. Students being nervous about [the midterms] and not knowing how to study for it, especially freshmen, and I have a feeling probably this year sophomores, since we didn’t have anything last year as well.”

Working on good study habits and finding ways that help students personally cope with their stress is a very helpful thing Ms.Shadis does for all New Providence High School students. What Ms.Shadis told us she usually does to help students cope is, “I usually start with a practical approach on it. What are your studying methods now? Do they work for you for regular tests? Can you chunk it? Can we fit it into your schedule? A little bit at a time do you need extra help, that sort of thing? And sort of assess where they are.  If they’re really overall organized.” 

She also emphasized SEL: “ We talk about self care options. What do you do to release your stress? Is it music? Is it dance? Do you run? Like whatever the case is, I try to help them find something so that they have a good healthy balance of taking care of themselves emotionally, physically, so that they can better manage their stress here.”