By Sarah Goodykoontz

You’ve got a big essay that you need to finish by the end of the week. But you also have practice after school, a big game, other clubs, tests and quizzes, and the rest of your homework. Not to mention the fact that you haven’t gotten any free time in what seems like forever.

Tempe Prep students know that feeling. That feeling is stress, and it is not at all uncommon. You might think that you are the only one deprived of sleep and energy, but you are not. We are all stretched somewhat thin, and that’s OK. We are all dealing with it together. However, we deal with it in different ways. Need some survival skills? Here are some ways that Tempe Prep students stay on top of things.

Senior Peter Surin does nothing superficial in school, especially in homework. “I don’t procrastinate on my homework,” he says, “and I complete it to the fullest.” This skill is extremely important; homework is a good way for a teacher to see a student’s potential and work ethic. Not procrastinating on homework also gives students more time to actually complete their homework. In other words, turn off that phone, TV, or any other distraction! The fewer distractions a student has, the faster that student can finish the homework. The faster the student can finish the homework, the sooner the student can go to sleep, which is Peter’s next survival skill.

Peter tries to get 8-9 hours of sleep every night. Some of you may be blowing off sleep, thinking that it is either unimportant, or unrealistic. Admittedly, 8-9 hours of sleep is more difficult to get on some nights than others. However, a sufficient amount of sleep is a high priority on our survival guide. Tonight’s amount of sleep determines tomorrow’s functionality. So, if you have that big test tomorrow, one of the best things you can do to prepare for it is to get a good amount of sleep tonight.

Seniors Abbi Harb and Madison Hanosh also have some tips to add. “Communication is key,” says Abbi. “Talk to your teachers and let them know if a certain topic is particularly challenging. Don’t be afraid to ask questions. The better understanding you have of the material, the easier it is to build knowledge off of that foundation.” Communication is one of the most important skills of survival at Tempe Prep. If something does not make sense, ask about it. Chances are, other students have the same questions you have, but are too afraid to ask.

“Don’t procrastinate,” Madison adds. “The teachers do a really great job of giving enough time to study and prepare for projects and essays, so it is important to utilize it. Otherwise, you’ll get stressed and won’t do your best work.”

This brings up another point that students should keep in mind: The teacher is NOT the enemy. Teachers are there to help, not to hurt. If a teacher gives a rather difficult assignment, it is not a punishment for the student. It is an opportunity for the student to learn, ask questions, and become more comfortable with the material. Take advantage of tutoring during Paideia, before school, and after school.

Abbi also brings up two of the most important survival skills. “Find ways to do your work that work for YOU! Minimize stress so that you can relax! Mental health first, school second, extracurriculars third.” Personalizing study sessions, Abbi’s first point, is necessary. Everyone has a different style, a different way of approaching and solving problems. No one way is “correct.” Use what you know about yourself — your habits, distractions, and tendency to become stressed easily — to find your most efficient way of getting things done.

Abbi’s other point is sanity. Doing everything possible to prepare mentally will in turn be what best prepares you best academically.