By Gavin Antonio, Kaiser High School

Imagine this–you’re a high school student starting the second semester of the new year. 

It’s 8 p.m. With the amount of free time you’ve allotted yourself, you decide it’s time to start studying early for a test you have at the end of the week. Perhaps you’ve just finished a long shift at work or an exhausting sports practice. You just got off the two-week winter break, and all your classes are getting significantly harder. Finals, though a few months away, still loom over you, seemingly haunting the rest of your school year. 

For seniors, you’ve probably already submitted your college applications, and now it’s just about grinding through the scholarship season and getting through the rest of the year. 

For juniors, you are constantly being bombarded by questions such as, “Have you started studying for x/y/z?” or, infamously, “Can you drive yet?” 

And for the underclassmen, you might still be getting used to high school, or maybe you adjusted a while ago, and are only now starting to feel the difference. Homecoming festivities from the start of the year were far too long ago, and the holidays are all in the past. The next break is not for another three months. It seems as if there’s no more energy, school spirit, or anything else to look forward to. What’s the point?

Before you know it, you haven’t studied at all. You’ve been scrolling. Scrolling through Instagram reels, TikTok videos, and your camera roll, with memories from the dreamy first semester. Now, it’s 11:40 p.m. Time to sleep and try again tomorrow. Woefully, this is the reality for most students in our generation, and it’s often a constant battle to keep pushing through.   

If this experience sounds familiar, then you’ve probably experienced what is known as a “second-semester slump,” which is nothing to be ashamed of. This describes a time in the second semester when students struggle to put as much effort into school as they used to, already feeling burnt out or “done” with the school year, desperately waiting for their summer break to “recharge.” This is typically seen in reduced motivation, not going to class, or, in some cases, simply giving up and letting assignments go undone. The two-week break often doesn’t make students antsy to start the new semester; rather, it seems to demotivate them, knowing they’ve only made it halfway through the year and that things are only going to get more difficult as the school year comes to a close. 

However, rather than fixating on these continuous struggles, some students agree that finding things that motivate them, no matter their size, can help them overcome their slump. In the first semester, many students are motivated by “big” events, such as homecoming, fall break, the holidays, and winter break. Although there aren’t as many major events ahead, there’s still plenty to look forward to. 

Banquets and proms are on their way, which means dressing up and dancing with friends. There are also spring sports, performances, competitions, the excitement of the school year coming to a close, and, of course, graduation. These moments give students something to work toward and celebrate together. Even if it’s nothing huge, simply having something to look forward to at the end of the day truly makes a difference. Whether that be the weekend, the end of the day when you get to eat dinner, or even just the end of a period. 

Although it may feel hard now, it’s important to remember just to take it one day at a time. Even just telling yourself to “give it one more day” can help. Step by step, you’ll move forward, and even the busiest weeks will eventually pass. Focusing on what you can do today, rather than everything ahead, can make the semester feel much more manageable. 

Ultimately, it doesn’t matter which way you choose to climb out of this slump. Remember that it’s completely normal to feel not only overwhelmed but also discouraged by everything the second semester throws at you. What matters most is choosing to move forward, even in small ways, and reminding yourself that brighter days and meaningful moments are still ahead. Keep moving—one step at a time.