While this may seem like a non-issue, I believe that it affects students’ ability to do well on their exams. During the long, drudging months of winter, Valentine’s Day is one of the few things we have to look forward to. Falling on a day of a final, all excitement for the holiday is replaced with disappointment. While studying is a large part of doing well on a final, the attitude going into it also affects performance. 

On the other hand, sophomore Hailey Dorsett thinks it will have the opposite effect, “I think it will make people work harder so they can get out of here and do their holiday plans.” 

If that wasn’t bad enough, due to an unscheduled snow day in early January, we are no longer getting President’s Day off. After working nonstop over the course of the second trimester, we are expected to be thrust into new classes. Having a day to reset before starting again can be vital to students and teachers’ motivation and mental health.

Although this is definitely not ideal, there are worse outcomes. Math teacher Kevin Rainey said “in the bigger scheme of things, it’s the same number of days every school year, so moving one day here or there doesn’t impact me that much.” 

Dorsett also expressed that she would rather make up the snow day now instead of “hav[ing] to make it up at the end of the year.”

While losing a scheduled day off and having to take finals on a holiday is not the best outcome, it seems teachers and students are coping with it well.