It’s that time of year again, the in-between phase when students aren’t as driven as they were at the start of the school year but haven’t yet found the final push to finish strong. The second trimester (tri) brings gloomy weather, sickness and a growing stack of assignments, making motivation feel out of reach.
Kennedy Goodheart (she/her), 11, is an honors student and a varsity athlete.
“Second tri is so hard because it’s hard to see the end of it so it’s like you’re just stuck,” said Goodheart.
Contrasting the start of the school year, the second tri seems to be a cycle of redundancy for students.
The term “second-tri-slump” refers to the midpoint and winter months of the school year. Both students and teachers feel this lull during the winter months, especially after the high of winter break and the holidays. As the weather plunges below zero degrees, school cancellations and 2-hour delays increase.
Emily Bonneau (she/her) is a social studies teacher at Liberty. As an educator, she is involved in students’ day-to-day lives.
“I think the tri starts with a lot of excitement and distractions through various holidays and breaks,” said Bonneau.
Regardless of the brutal weather and shorter days, the show must go on. Many students balance sports, clubs, academics and friends. However, these pressures hit harder when paired with winter chills and less sunlight.
“I would say burnout is such a big thing, you go to school, practice, homework and then you have tests, and you have to study and all that, and you’re kind of just like, ‘when does it end?’” said Goodheart.
Despite the multitude of distractions and missed school days, there are so many ways for students to push through and finish the trimester strong.
“I know that practicing positive psychology [and]focusing on good things about each day can be really helpful for students [and] just overall mental wellness. And we know when students feel more mentally balanced and positive, they’re going to be able to feel more motivated to reach their goals,” said Bonneau.
Students have been trying their best to find effective ways to find joy, keep a positive attitude and count their blessings.
“It helps being with my teammates, and being together during team dinners and just hanging out with them has been a big motivation and also my friends in my classes. It’s like, ‘we can do this,” said Goodheart.
As the second trimester comes to an end and grades are finalized, the increase of sunlight and longer days can make it easier for students to see the light at the end of the tunnel. Though the weather outside has been beyond cold, Liberty’s warm culture and exceptional staff can help students get through the second trimester.
