With Midterms right around the corner, students are hard at work preparing for their numerous exams. Balancing homework, extracurriculars, and personal responsibilities becomes increasingly more challenging as exams test not only students academic abilities, but also their time management. Midterms are a big part of the school year for students, pushing them to stay focused, manage their time, and succeed in their classes.

Junior and Morgan Scholar, Taylor Breen, gave her two-sense on preparing for exams. Breen finds that for her, the study method that has proved most successful is writing everything down. Breen shared, “I write everything out. I write out all the definitions, and answer all of the objectives.” By writing everything out, Breen said, she is able to recall information that she otherwise would have forgotten.

Senior, Avery Cutler, has found the town library to be her key to effective studying. Cutler elaborated, “It’s so peaceful and quiet. There’s no one around. I put my airpods in and I’m locked.” The Henry Carter Hull Library is open 9AM to 8PM Tuesday through Thursday this week.

Cutler feels that studying thoroughly helps her to feel more prepared and reduces her stress. She stated that “you cannot complain about the grade you get if you don’t put in the work.”

Breen recommends setting goals, and taking time for yourself in between studying. She explained that when you are stressed, “you don’t comprehend the information because you are too focused on stressing to actually retain what you’re learning.”

Both Breen and Cutler have found that their study habits have evolved throughout the years. Through trial and error, both have discovered what methods work for them and what ones don’t. Cutler noticed that when her classes were easier, she felt like she didn’t have to study. As she has grown to taking more challenging classes, she now focuses more attention on being well prepared for her exams. Breen shared that freshman year she used to only use Quizlet, but throughout the years she “found that it’s not super helpful.”

On Thursday, January 15th the Morgan Mentors presented to the underclassmen advisories about preparing for midterms. They discussed ways to reduce stress and encouraged students to develop strong study habits that will benefit them throughout their high school careers.

Sophomore, Mollie Lamoureux, found the presentation helpful “to learn new tricks and tips for studying” and felt that “it made it less stressful.”

Going into the presentation, Lamoureux thought that she already knew everything that was going to be discussed, but to her surprise, the upperclassmen articulated methods that she hadn’t thought of before. Instead of simply focusing on ways to study, the upperclassmen also touched on trying different study locations, studying with other people, and other combinations they have proven successful for them.

Lamoureux found the information more valuable, hearing it from upperclassmen. She explained that, “they’ve already gone through the exams at least twice so they know how to prepare and the ‘do’s’ and ‘dont’s’.”

As midterms approach, students continue to navigate the challenges of balancing academics, activities, and personal wellbeing. Whether it’s writing everything out, studying in a quiet space, or taking brain breaks, these strategies focus on preparation, productivity, and self care. By learning from the experiences of the upperclassmen and adapting their own habits, students are better equipped to manage stress and approach midterms with confidence and focus.