Students review the school year

By Adelaide Breier

Editorial Assistant

Crete-Monee High School students and staff are finishing up the 25’-26’ school year with good vibes and excitement as summer approaches. With final exams around the corner and AP exams officially here, many are looking forward to summer break as the weather starts to warm up.

Students leave the building as the weather warms up, looking ahead to the summer.

“Going into ninth grade was stressful and definitely a big step up. However, after a few weeks, everything started to fall into place. I have more freedom here and have met many new people; being here has opened up numerous opportunities. I’m looking forward to sophomore year,” freshman Nikalya Collins said.

Although summer break is almost here, it's still important to maintain skills year-round. CMHS school counselor Mrs. Muta said that continuing to set goals for the summer and next school year, and reflecting on this year's accomplishments and areas for improvement, are great ways to maintain a sharp mind.

“One thing I would love to see improve next year and move forward with is participation in spirit days/weeks. There are definitely staff and students who will always dress up for whatever theme we have for the day, but there's a lot of room for improvement,” Mrs. Muta said.

The preparation for final and AP tests is stressful and tiring, but it's also important to be prepared. Students have worked hard throughout the year and have shown significant improvement in studying for these tests.

“I feel that most students are prepared for final exams and the upcoming AP exams. Most students have been trying hard with practice testing and studying, putting forth a lot of effort in preparation for these tests,” AP government teacher Mrs. Mikal said.

​According to the College Board program, some tips to help students prepare for AP and final exams include positive self-talk, getting enough sleep before the tests, using all available resources, asking for help if unsure about something, moving your body, and giving your brain breaks.

​“I feel as if I’m prepared for AP and final exams. 've been collecting extra resources and using every study tool I have to prepare for my upcoming AP exam. As for finals, I'e been doing well in all of my classes and putting forth a little extra effort to study when finals week comes around should give me the boost I need to do well,” freshman Leila Thorsean said.

​Setting goals is a great way to expect to excel in the future. Keeping goals in mind for the following school year or even over summer break can help prepare for the future. Keeping a

solid schedule over break can also help make the transition back into school easier.

“There are a lot of great ways to keep your mind sharp over the summer! Reading is always beneficial; it keeps your mind active and is a great way to learn new vocabulary. Having a summer job can help keep your brain active, especially if you're dealing with money and having to make changes for people, and it definitely forces you to make sure you're waking up and arriving on time, just like at school,” Mrs. Muta said.

Reflecting on what needs to be worked on during school hours can be very beneficial for getting rid of those bad habits. Finding ways to manage any internal hardships faced can help in the long run. Simply making a calendar to help with time management, getting a new binder to keep your work organized, or having personal study time to make sure your work gets completed are all easy and great ways to start.

“I need to improve on my procrastination going into next year. I've been a procrastinator, and it's caused me to run into some problems throughout the year. I need to start learning how not to overthink things and just get what I need to do done,” Collins said.

​Even though school can seem hard sometimes, there are still lots of special memories made over the year. Reflecting on those memories and opportunities is a great way to continue high school positively and view things with integrity.

“I’m really looking forward to closing out this year and especially moving into my senior year. Although this year was a bit rough, many great things came with it. I was given the opportunities to play a part in both plays for drama as well as help out with the show choir and play softball,” junior Isla McClure said.