There is no right or wrong way to get through midterms and finals

Malka

HI, my name is Malka. I’m in ninth grade and it’s my first year taking finals. I’m so beyond nervous. I’ve always been the type that stresses about schoolwork, but this is a whole new level. Being tested on a year’s worth of material — how can anyone possibly squash that much information into their brain?

I take my grades very seriously and I’m really anxious about not doing well. I’ve tried going to my teachers and asking them to advise me on a proper and efficient study schedule, but I still don’t feel prepared enough, even with my color-coded, typed study. My teachers said if I follow it, I should be fine.

But who’s to say I won’t go completely blank from sheer nerves? I also have another problem. My friend Sori is usually my study partner, but for finals, I’d really like to study on my own. For one thing, I really only study with Sori for her sake. She’s a much less serious student and her mother always nags her about it. Sori begged me to study with her so her mother wouldn’t be breathing down her back before a test. It was fine at first. I never allowed us to goof off for more than an hour or two before really cracking down, and if Sori got bored, I’d continue on my own.

But now with finals, Sori just expects me to study with her and I know she’s going to be a distraction that I can’t afford. I don’t want to do less than my best and if I’m also responsible for keeping Sori’s nose in her notes, then I’m going to lose out on valuable time I could otherwise be devoting to my own studying.

I feel bad telling Sori I don’t want to study with her; I know she’s going to do poorly without my help. But what if helping her costs me precious time and better grades? I will never feel okay with that. Should I study with Sori or not?