This time of the year is usually when students start to talk about spring break plans, and sometimes even the summer adventures they have already thought out, but this year the chatter filling the halls is a little different.
After speaking to many students here at Fossil Ridge, there was quite a surge of comments and replies that sounded similar to each other. Shannon Pelichowski, Junior, in particular had some pretty strong feelings about the slump that many students are feeling this second semester. The first thing Pelichowski said was, “I am extremely tired, but I am doing ok.” Not only her, but a handful of students that were asked the same question, replied much like she did. “I used to love school. I loved waking up early and coming to school, but now not so much. I love my bed. I want to have motivation to finish the school year, but I’m not really able to find any. I feel as if the social part of my life is missing. I want to be able to hang out with friends and I want to be able to go out on late spontaneous adventures with my best buddies, and I want to make memories. Instead, I’m locked in my room after school trying to find the motivation to do my homework and keep my grades intact.” Commented Pelichowski . Especially as students reach Junior and Senior year, there is more pressure on them to perform academically and are also critical years for figuring out what you want your future to look like and exactly who you want to be.
With the last quarter of the 2015-2016 school year approaching, many upperclassmen as well as underclassmen are feeling nervousness when it comes to their GPAs. Everyone is trying to find motivation to finish the year strong, but for some it is proving to be a more difficult challenge than they anticipated. But for some, it seems to be easier than it is for others. Junior Curtis Lyons said, “I wouldn’t consider myself in a slump but I definitely do not have academic motivation. I find excitement in being active and outside. Those are the kinds of thing I like to do not sitting in a classroom environment where you aren’t being engaged the entire time.” Curtis unlike many students here at Fossil, is content with his classes as well as his organization as the end of the school year comes.
You might be asking, who really cares about students being stuck in this ‘second semester slump’? But it is not only affecting the students, the teachers here at Fossil are feeling it too. Sophomore Geography and Junior US History teacher Ms. Plank has said many times in her classes that, “It is just that time of the year where no one wants to be here anymore, and there is little effort and engagement in so many classes. It is hard.” A few of the language teachers at Fossil have also made many comments about this year almost being over and how everyone seems to be growing more careless with each passing day. All in all, a lot of students are feeling uninterested towards learning, and some teachers are also having a rough time trying to engage their classes again.
Every student, freshman through senior, have heard our principal and teachers say “Finish the year strong, it is important, don’t give up yet!” Although it is hard to find a light in this dim tunnel, Sabercat students are driven, determined young adults, and there will hopefully be success as well as smiles once May rolls around this year.
