Faith Collins

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Recently, students received report cards that included their rank amongst their classmates. Rank, along with Grade Point Average (GPA), will determine how colleges consider applying students. Due to this raised pressure, students are panicking to improve their grades before the end of the second semester.To help with this stress, top ranking students of each class give insight on how they get through the semester.

“I like to write summaries down for every class on my phone so that way I can make sure to get everything done. I cross it out so I can feel better and actually feel like I’m doing something,” sophomore Adriana De La Garza said.

This time of year, lots of pressure is applied to students to raise their grades in order to compete against their classmates.The buildup of pressure leads to unwanted stress, but De La Garza provides a solution.

“I have a club called ‘Meditative Study’, and you have periods of meditation with periods of study in between, so that way you’re calm while you’re studying which will help you remember,” De La Garza said.

The Meditative Study club meets Thursdays after school at 4:10 in room H209.

Trying to strengthen your GPA? De La Garza advises struggling students to talk to their teachers about questions you got wrong on tests or assignments to help them understand the material for later.

“I’m a big ‘book’ person, so I read the book, and I always take a nap when I get home from school so I can be alert while I’m studying. I do most of my studying late at night, otherwise I’m not really focused during the day,” De La Garza said.

Anyone who’s attended high school is aware of how stress can affect young minds.

“I think that [the grading system] adds a lot of stress and really degrades education because you’re focused on the grading instead of learning the actual [material], so you’re never actually gaining anything,” De La Garza said.

Freshman Shelby Crowley says she tries her best to get her school work done as soon as she gets home from school.

“Make time to get everything done and prioritize for each one of your classes. Know which classes you have to do stuff in and which classes you can wait on,” Crowley said.

Crowley is ranked 1st in the Freshman class and has developed a few study strategies she suggests for struggling students.

“Flash cards work well for any class,” Crowley said.

Although grades and rank may seem like a vital part of life at the moment, it’s important to take a step back and relax.

“Take time to destress and not worry so much,” Crowley said.