With finals around the corner, hallways and study spaces are buzzing with a familiar tension. For many Neuqua students, this time of year can be filled with stress as high schoolers attempt to juggle assignments, projects and studying, all while trying to balance sleep, extracurriculars and jobs. How students are coping (or not) is becoming a critical question as we count down to the week of final exams.

 A recent survey involving 331 Neuqua students examined how the stress during final exams affects their sleep, and therefore impairs their memory consolidation when taking tests. High school students are recommended to get 8-10 hours of sleep per night, however during finals weeks, 57% of Neuqua students reported they sleep 6 hours or less per night, with 24.2% getting 4 hours or less and 12.7% getting under 2 hours. This can be detrimental to brain activity while studying and performance during the exam by affecting the brain’s memory recall function, resulting in a cognitive decline.

 Research supports that better sleep is achievable, even during high-stress weeks. A 2016 study cited by The National Library of Medicine found that college students can improve their sleep, even during stressful periods like finals, when given guidance and a grade improvement incentive to sleep more. Strategies included maintaining a consistent sleep schedule (even on the weekends), limiting electronics before bed and exercising daily, all of which helped students reach healthier sleep durations.

 For high school students facing finals, adopting these habits—even without an incentive—can help improve focus, memory and overall performance, making it easier to cope with the pressure of end-of-semester exams.

 The Echo sat down with Neuqua Valley English teacher, Ms. Lascola, to discuss the trends and struggles of students during finals season and ways teachers can help. From her perspective, Lascola has observed that many Neuqua students around this time of year adopt three common coping strategies: not eating well, over-caffinating, and lacking more sleep than usual. However, she has also noticed positive ways students manage their stress, including prioritizing classes, talking with friends who share similar struggles, and seeking guidance from teachers.

 From a teacher’s perspective, Lascola emphasized that teachers at Neuqua do take finals very seriously, but they do not base the entire weight of a student’s grade purely on the result of their final exam, nor do they view a student differently based on their performance on the final.

 “It’s just one test, on one day, at one time—it doesn’t change you as a better or worse person,”  said Lascola.

 While teachers see the big-picture of stress during final exams, students experience the pressure up close. Several Neuqua students shared how they prepare for exams and manage their stress during this period.

 Junior, Emersen McManis, discussed some strategies she uses to prepare for finals, such as gathering all her study materials over Thanksgiving break, making flashcards to improve active recall and most importantly, finding deficits in her previous tests throughout the semester to recognize what she needs to prioritize.

 But beyond study strategies, finding techniques to de-stress during finals is also a very important element to focus on. Another Junior, Olivia VanDeWoestyne, said she finds it useful to schedule short naps into her studying and prioritizes getting more sleep to improve her performance and reduce fatigue. Additionally, she also enjoys hanging out with friends to unwind in times of stress, and she even found that studying with them also helped her.

 Together, these students show that the days leading up to finals are all about balance. While it is important to develop study strategies, like McManis, it’s equally essential to rest and make time for friends, as Vandewoestyne reminds us.

 Finals week can feel overwhelming, but it’s important to remember that stress is part of the process. No single test defines you and taking short breaks and prioritizing a healthy amount of sleep can make a big difference. Good luck for finals, Wildcats!