Students at Colonie Central High School struggle with “The Third Quarter Slump” as March approaches

Various students of different grade levels at Colonie have different perspectives of school during this time of year with winter breaks being over.

By Samia Musleh

Reporting from Colonie

It’s officially more than half way through the school year for students at Colonie Central High School and some may be facing a so-called “third quarter slump.”

In a survey conducted by Olentangy High School, 75% of students believe that they perform the worst academically during the third quarter. Students at Colonie feel similarly.

“It’s a couple of missing assignments…I can still make it up, it's just I’m a little drained out you know” said Freshman Ishaaq Musleh.

Without any breaks, and having assignments back to back, the pressure can definitely rise. This is especially true for freshmen who are just at the start of their high school career. 

“Here right now I am taking basic level classes and in the future I will be taking more advanced classes…it will get more challenging…” Ishaaq continued.

Some have accepted that it’ll only get worse from here on out. Seniors who are at the end of their time here haven’t contradicted that either. 

Many seniors commit to colleges during the second semester, only proving “the third quarter slump” more factual.

As a senior already committed to a college, Alishba Nadeem emphasizes the lack of desire she feels to keep trying as her high school goal has already been accomplished.

“When you are already accepted into a college or even committed it’s like you don’t really have a specific reason for you to keep trying to keep your grades up” said senior Alishba Nadeem. 

However this isn’t the case for all seniors. In fact some believe that the third quarter was more detrimental for their academics as underclassmen than as seniors. 

Many students take their first three years as a learning experience. With no regents or AP exams for some students, like Hebat Al-Karkhi, take more time to reflect rather than slumping for the last two quarters.

“These past three years the only thing that made me stressed were my regents. Am I going to pass these regents? Am I going to graduate? Yeah, not having these regents my senior year is the best thing ever because I can focus on much more other stuff” Al-Karkhi said.

Other seniors, such as Nadeem, believe that final exams actually keep them up on their feet during this time of year.

“...One of the main classes I’m coming to school for and paying attention to is AP Biology because I know I am going to have my AP test in May…I definitely think that has been keeping me motivated and focused in class and in school,” said Nadeem.

The high school makes an effort to try and have their students avoid falling into this third quarter slump. Spanish teachers have students participate in “La Locura De Marzo” where students pick their favorite Spanish songs during the month of March and seniors recently had their senior breakfast to remind them of school spirit.