At Fuquay Varina High School, it is known that after students take the first semester finals, they return to school the following Monday to start the second semester. This can be quite draining for students mentally, so should they be given a break between the end of the first semester and the start of the second?

As we all know, final exams are not just a test of knowledge, but also of mental endurance. Students invest days, if not weeks, in rigorous preparation and study, which inevitably leads to significant mental stress and pressure. Could a break between semesters be a potential solution to alleviate the mental stress felt by students during exam week?

“[A break] would give students reset time before they have to jump into a new semester because it’s kind of hard to jump into brand new classes,” said sophomore Laurel Feldner.

A short break after the first semester finals would give students the time to let their brains rest before they need to start working again. Starting new classes is never easy, even though we do it so often. Most times, it’s brand new material, and it takes time to adjust to it.

The break does not need to be long; a week-long break would be the perfect length. This allows students to rest without falling out of their school routine by being out of school too long. We could also time it by taking finals before a break we already have now, allowing students to rest without changing the school schedule.

“I feel like we could time it to take finals before Christmas break like some other schools do,” said Feldner.

Students could spend this break doing different activities that help them clear their heads. They can prepare themselves for the new semester by buying any supplies they need, resting, doing their favorite activities, or doing anything else that helps them get a break from school for the time being.

Mental health is extremely important for teens because it affects them so much. Because of this, it is important for schools to focus on ensuring that mental health remains good in all students. A break to alleviate some of the stressors from school after finals would be the perfect way to do this.