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www.oakvillebeaver.com The Oakville Beaver, Friday January 26, 2007 - 35 Some final thoughts on final high school exams By Sarah Jansen Gr. 12, Holy Trinity Catholic Secondary H igh school students across the province are once again united in the biannual tradition known as final exams. There are as many takes on this tradition as there are students. And for every person there is a unique approach to coping with this stress. The experience is something that is not unfamiliar to us. So, what is it about exams that make each of us crumble with humility? Perhaps it is the realization that there are no more chances. This is the final. You cannot write another test, or hand in another assignment to boost your mark. The exam is your last attempt to achieve your desired grade. Or maybe, it is the studying. The white printed foolscap sheets of paper in front of you and the strict time limit of an exam are not as intimidating as a binder that holds five months worth of notes that you must remember. The exam is only a couple of hours; it is the studying that requires much more. Exam week is clearly laid out in each school calendar at the beginning of every school year. So why are we all blindsided at the end of every January when this week has crept upon us? It is the fear of the unknown. What questions will they ask? Am I wasting my time studying this? If I don't look at this note, will I be asked to answer a question about it? The old familiar adage, "so much to do, so little time" feeds this fear. Maybe exams would be easier to handle if they weren't accompanied by the end-of-semester culminatings and summatives. You're practicing your speech fiveminutes before it is your turn to present because you were working on it all night. You wonder if your class will even be listening or looking at your hair you had no time to fix this morning. However, all of us need to stop chewing on our pencils and let the butterflies settle. Take a break, put your books down and leave Hamlet on his own to deal with the ghosts of his father. Watch television or take a walk without thinking about all the schoolwork that you should be doing instead. Remember, there is no need to stress. Remind yourself that once you come down off the caffeine to picture the examination room like your living room (or wherever you study). If you can remember how to find the derivative there, you can remember it in room 204. Just tell yourself, so what if this one "big test" is worth about 15 per cent of your final mark. Think about it this way. It's like a sale. You wouldn't get all worked up about saving 15 per cent; it's only the tax. An exam is only the tax on a semester, that pesky tag-on you're required to write. So, once you've paid your dues, relax, because it's about to start all over again.