Midterms are just around the corner : Advice to Minimize Comparing Yourself to Others
January 17, 2023
As midterms are approaching, student stress is rising, and the expectation to achieve amazing marks is starting to weigh down on many. As many know, WHS is an extremely competitive school, full of rigorous academics and high achieving students.
This high success rate on exams can be very stressful for many, as there is constant comparison among students, which leads to doubt and stress about being the best.
Speaking from experience, exam preparation is very stressful, and a time where I find myself doubting my academic ability. Over the years I have come to realize that there is such a high standard of academics, which can lead to many feeling as if they are not where they should be.
I have some advice to share.
1. Focus on your own academics rather than those around you. As hard as it can be to get caught up in comparing yourself to how your friends are doing, it only leads to more stress. Focus on how you are doing in your classes, not on how you are doing compared to your peers.
2. Don’t constantly check your PowerSchool. Realize that your grades don’t define you as a person. Your grades are important to check on periodically, but constantly logging in has no benefit, and it can lead to that previously mentioned comparison. Determining your success and worth based on a grade is not accurate, which is why there is no need to be checking PowerSchool repetitively. It is important to see where you are and what grades need to be improved, but there is a happy medium.
3. Don’t be afraid to ask for help from your peers or teachers. They are there to help you, and set you up for success. Teachers understand this is a stressful time for students, and are very willing to help us prepare as much as they can.
Overall, midterms are a very stressful time, especially at WHS where the academic expectations among students is very high. You are your own person, and during exam preparation it is important to remember that you can’t expect yourself to be the same as your peers. As long as you are trying your best, then that’s all that counts.
