Earlier this month, many CB South students completed their AP testing exams, signifying a large milestone within the annual school year. For most courses, the exam administered through College Board is the largest assessment, and the curriculum taught to the students is based off the concepts tested on the test. In other words, the AP exam is the acme of the year for most students – the largest hurdle which has now concluded the uphill of the year. Since the conclusion of testing, many students have identified a significant change in attitude regarding academics and the remaining days of the school year.

Lillian Shuart, a sophomore who took the AP Biology and AP Psychology exam, expressed that “. . . it’s so much easier to get up to the morning now that I don’t have a [big] test to take. [This year] is almost over, but my [English assignments] never end.”

Sadie Schmellick, a junior at South who completed the AP Macroeconomics exam and the AP Biology exam as well, reflected a similar sentiment regarding the difficulty of maintaining academic determination despite major assessments being over: “I’ve looked forward to after the AP Exam since I thought we weren’t going to learn much more, but there [is still] tests. The only thing that gets me through is knowing that we don’t have much school left.”

These students, in addition to many others, conveyed that the completion of College Board testing has granted newfound time, but that the frequency of assignments has not diminished. Hence, students have found varying use of this time the remaining days of the school year.

Luca Berg, a sophomore who took the AP Biology exam, has utilized the conclusion of AP testing as a means “. . . to actually focus on math, social studies, and other honors classes. That’s my next priority now.”

Other members of the South community, such as David Pallin, a sophomore who completed the AP European History test, have utilized their newfound to embrace the end of the school year: “. . . [I]n my free time I feel a lot less stressed. . . I feel like I’m finally able to decompress and relax for the next school year.”

While the usage of free time has varied for many students, it is certain that the conclusion of College Board testing has impacted the CB South community and signified the gradual beginning of summer.