The Final Stretch

By Gavin Li

As we start the new year, we approach the end of the first semester. For context, the second semester for all NYC public schools starts on January 27, 2026, just a few weeks after winter break. For the underclassmen, this might feel like another time period in school to fully adjust and prepare exams or for the upcoming years. But for the junior cohort, the end of the first semester marks the urgent beginning of months that lead into the SAT, AP exams, and the college application process. 

Many juniors have expressed different experiences regarding their first semester journeys. Because this is their last year on the MLK campus, many have expressed their high grades as a factor that made the first semester feel chill. In addition, talking to new students has become a part of many junior’s lives, as they are highly involved in school activities and clubs. However, some juniors have stated that they would like to continue on honing their analytical English skills, especially for AP Lang. Juniors have also mentioned that they would continue to strive for good grades in science classes like AP Physics 1 and AP Environmental Science. 

Although academics are a large part in this final stretch, the consideration of the college application process still lingers on a majority of the junior cohort. Various juniors have reported that they have accumulated lots of community hours and jobs, which keep them busy and build strong skills. As for the college essays, few juniors have a full understanding of what they would like to write for their essays. Indeed, it is quite far into the future, which is why the majority of the juniors do not have a pull picture for their essays. Some juniors, however, have an idea for their intended majors, such as majors that align with their current extracurriculars or interests. But the biggest part of the college process that students are most focused on is the SAT. The SAT, a digital assessment used in the college application process, occurs in March, and is administered at MHSHS. Many juniors have reported that they are actively studying and pushing themselves to score high. 

But with all these activities and events going on in a junior’s life, the most important thing to consider is the approach to the final stretch. Of course, health comes first, and in order to push for the final stretch, all things must remain calm and smooth.