Walking through the hallways, it is clear that students have a much calmer demeanor than they did in the frantic weeks prior to Christmas break. With finals finished, many students are taking on the start of second semester with ease. Light conversation and laughter can be overheard in the library, which is usually silent during the anxiety-filled finals season. So far, students have responded to the new schedule changes positively and with few complaints.

While not everyone was on board with the schedule changes at the start of the year, a school-wide survey last year determined that the majority of students and parents were in favor of the current schedule. Mercy started first semester earlier than usual, in mid-August, and in return had the   opportunity to get finals done before Christmas break.

Many students going out of town over Christmas to visit their families or to vacation in a warmer climate felt calm without having the burden of studying for approaching finals. Senior Alysa Graf found this to be true.

“At the beginning of the year I was not really fond of having finals before break,” said Graf. “When break came and I had nothing to do though, I actually really appreciated the change.”

Senior Lana Grasser found some unintended benefits to the schedule change.

“I think it was really lucky that we took finals before break,” said Grasser. “Especially since we had all those snow days when we got back.”

Aside from the practical reasons for the schedule change, it certainly did prove convenient with Winter Storm Ion creeping up and causing school to close for two extra days. Had there been finals in the first weeks after break, it is likely that this would have caused some grief.

Change can often be difficult to accept, but so far it seems as if students have appreciated the stress-free start to their second semester. Second semester will be ending sooner than usual, which means finals will be on a far earlier date. Only time will tell how students will then adjust to that.