By: Quinn Isenberg 

The start of the second semester brings a lot of change to the halls of GS.  

One of the most prominent changes is the students’ classes. With semester one classes ending, students will get a fresh start in their semester two classes. 

“I like the change,” senior Oakley Decker said. “I always liked the different classes from the first half to the second.”  

It’s common for students to grow tired of their classes after being in the same environment for so long. The second semester gives students a chance to trade out classes they may not find enjoyment in anymore for new ones.  

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Blanca Grillo and Rocco Himes pose with their second semester schedules.

Photo By: Quinn Isenberg

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“I’m happy because I didn’t really like my classes,” senior Samantha Hanawalt said. “So, I want to go into the second semester.”  

Despite the fresh start, students may find themselves losing their motivation for school throughout the second semester. Instead of letting this get the best of them, wise students find ways to keep themselves engaged.  

“To keep myself motivated I do stuff after school, like Speech and Debate and band,” freshman Luke Johnson said.  

Others find themselves motivated by the opportunity to do well in their new classes.  

“I’m more motivated for the second semester because I feel like it’s a second chance at getting the grades I want to get and didn’t during the first semester,” sophomore Daliza Sanchez said.  

New classes also give students the opportunity to do better than they did in the first semester. Students can walk into these classes with a clean slate and apply the knowledge they took from the last semester into the new one.  

“I learned new ways to study that work better for my particular learning style,” Sanchez said.  

The second semester also proves to be beneficial to teachers. It gives them a chance to try new methods with different groups of students to see what works best.  

“The really nice thing is that I can reflect upon experiences that I had in the fall because how the students reacted to different tactics is still fresh in my mind,” math teacher Mr. Al Toret said. “I can modify them if they didn’t work or reuse them if they did.”  

To some the second semester simply means they’re one semester closer to the end of the year. However, it is important to take things slow and make the most of the new semester by taking advantage of every opportunity that comes their way.  

“Savor your time here rather than wish it away,” Mr. Toret said.