As winter break approaches, Semester 1 finals loom over Seattle Prep students. While students should be enjoying a break from studies and stress many are worried about finals. But the timing of these exams has become a contentious issue: should finals happen before or after Christmas break? The answer may seem obvious to students, but Prep’s scheduling decisions tell a different story.
During the 2023-2024 school year, Prep implemented the idea of having Semester 1 finals the day before Christmas break with special allocated days dedicated to them. After Christmas break, there wouldn’t be major finals for other classes but rather short tests on new material until the semester ended . However, since that year Prep has changed this format of having Semester 1 finals at the end of January. This is only a few weeks after Christmas break ends, giving something for students to worry about while they are on break. While this decision makes more sense because of the school’s scheduling and structure, it gives more material for students to study for their cumulative final.
Malaya Burks ’27, gives her opinion on which one she prefers and why: “I feel like finals should be before Christmas break because there is a higher chance of people remembering the material in their classes and causes less stress. I also think majority of people aren’t studying during Christmas break and are trying to enjoy the holidays with family.”
Burks made a good point on how a majority of students wouldn’t want to have finals shortly after break as it takes away from their holiday spirit with exams still lingering in their mind. Additionally, many students will probably not want to study over their break resulting in many forgetting the material they just learned. This can cause students to feel behind and unprepared for their finals only a few weeks away when they come back.
A freshman experiencing Prep’s current finals schedule for the first time is Kiefer Schwarz ’29 who added on to Burks’ thoughts: “I also think that finals should be before Christmas break because all that information is still fresh in your mind and you can just get over with it.”
Schwarz’s comment perfectly encapsulates how a lot of students will want to mentally close the chapter of their first semester and fully engage with the holidays. Once break ends they return in January with new beginnings and aspirations for the new year ahead.
Both students seem to mutually agree that finals before break is best for student wellness and their capability to perform as best they can for finals. Additionally, they argue that Prep needs to prioritize their stress during Christmas breaks, known as one of the happiest times of the year. Without this wanted change, student wellness and happiness could continue to decrease. The future is uncertain if Prep will revert back to its old format of Semester 1 finals, but one thing is certain that students want this change.
