A Change in Timing BY NOAH HERNANDEZ
In December of 2018, the current Loma Linda Academy HS students took their finals in December for the first time. Previously, finals had been held in January after winter vacation. For two years, finals have been held in December, but this school year, they are being held in January again.
Current seniors who have been to LLA since their freshman year have experienced taking finals before and after Christmas break. Both Isabelle Gultom (12) and Tomorrow Xu (12) prefer to take their finals before Christmas break. “I would like to spend my Christmas break stress-free and enjoy it to the fullest, but now I would have to spend my break studying and preparing for it,” Gultom said.
I would like to spend my Christmas break stress-free ... now Due to the coronavirus, the school I would have to year started a week after it normally has in the past. This event set teachers and students behind schedule. In order spend my break to get the schedule back on track, the administration has decided to push back studying and finals to after Christmas. Since students started in class preparing for it. laterthan planned because of the distance learning training teachers had -Isabelle Gultom at the start of the year. When school started started later than planned, “we felt the difference between both semester was too great,” said Iveth Valenzuela, the Loma Linda Academy high school Principal. So in order to even out the two semesters, first semester finals will begin after Christmas break. Graphic Credits: Pixabay.com
In regards to his sentiment about the change in dates for finals, Xu said, “I think that’s a burden on students as we have to study and need to prepare for the final during Christmas vacation which creates pressure during holiday time.”
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Gultom agreed with Xu, emphasizing that her birthday coincides with that time period. She explained that “it would have been great to celebrate my birthday with having no more finals,” instead of going into the break needing to prepare for her final exams. Since Gultom and Xu have had the experience of taking finals before and after Christmas vacation, their advice on studying comes from a wider perspective. Xu advises students to complete their work on time and to ask questions. He reminds students that teachers have office hours, and this time should be utilized to clarify anything not understood. Gultom takes a few hours from each day just to review concepts and notes. This is a simple and effective method, and for extra clarification, she refers to educational videos on the topic. This shift in dates would be an adjustment for many students. To help ease students during finals season, Hans Figueroa, the Loma Linda Academy high school Vice Principal, advises students to ask questions, review the material, begin studying early, organize virtual study groups, be well-rested, create and stick to a study schedule, and to prioritize their time. Heidi Elssmann, the Physics teacher, tells students to “Take 15-30 minutes per day to review during break. If they do that, it doesn’t feel overwhelming. Finals season is coming upon LLA students quickly. So sleep well, study sufficiently, ask questions, take notes, and take care of your mental health.
