Hallways are beaming with excitement for holiday break, but also filled with study guides, review packets and whispered plans about late-night cram sessions. With the final schedule now released, students are getting their first real look at the challenge ahead: gearing up for one last academic sprint before winter break. 

“I wish teachers would stop being so hard on us with assignments and due dates before finals because we are already stressed out enough, and having assignments pile up isn’t helping,” Kaniya Smith (9) said.

Teachers are loading students with last minute reviews, large projects and increasing workload. Students can feel overwhelmed especially as they try to balance assignments from multiple classes at once.

“I wish teachers understood the stress that goes into finals week,” Raya Caldwell (11) said.

Across Grandview, conversations about workload and academic pressure have become increasingly common. 56.1% of students at Grandview say the balance between everyday assignments and high stakes testing creates a demanding environment that can quickly become overwhelming. 

Based on this year’s data about “How Stressful do Finals Feel for You” for Grandview students, approximately 54.7% reported that finals are moderately stressful. An additional 22.7% said they are extremely stressful, meaning more than three quarters of the student body experience stress during finals week. Beyond the overall workload, about 8.8% students feel that the structure of certain classes adds unnecessary pressure.

About 30% of students believe that not every course needs a final exam, especially subjects where learning is more hands-on or performance-based. 

“I wish they knew that some elective classes shouldn’t need finals, such as theatre. I get that it’s to show how much we actually paid attention in class, but I feel like it’s unnecessary,” Zoeann Lanada (9) said.

This stress can be especially intense for students who are facing finals for the first time, navigating unfamiliar expectations while still trying to keep up with their regular responsibilities. The support they’re given doesn’t always match the challenges they’re facing, creating a need for more flexibility and understanding.

“I wish they knew that we need grace, especially if it is our first time and we are trying to juggle all of it,” Sonia Ferent (9) said.