The study hall is a sought after elective for most students at the high school. One free period during the day is incredibly valuable for a manner of different activities and offers a break from the chaotic and relentless school schedule. For student athletes or students with extracurricular activities, the study hall could be essential for their work and time management.
As a junior at the high school who has had a study for at least one semester every single year, I have noticed many things about how my classmates take advantage of this precious hour of the school day. So many factors including time of day, location, and course workload go into the use of study halls at the high school, and I was determined to find out how students are using their time.
Time of Day
A major factor that played into the productivity of study halls I found was time of day. I asked Ronan O’Brien, a junior with a G Block study what he thought.
“I would definitely say I’m less productive near the end of the day,” he said. “I’m ready to get out of school and I like to just relax and talk.”
My experience in a G Block study last year supports Ronan’s words. After a long day of classes I would relax and enjoy myself, sometimes getting a jump start on my homework.
On the other hand, I found that an earlier study can lead to more instances of intense productivity or drowsy relaxation. Students can find themselves facing 2 options most days…either a ton of work due later in the day from the prior night or hardly anything to do because the day has just begun.
“It depends a lot on how busy my week is,” explained Sophomore Kwaku Opong. “With midterms coming up I’ve been much more focused but on easy days I sometimes won’t do any work.”
Chloe Mankes, a junior with an A block study, echoed a similar sentiment. “Going from a G block study last year to an A block Study this year has been a nice change,” she said. “I feel so productive and it’s been helpful to prepare for tests later.”
What do students like to do?
Students enjoy a variety of different activities during their study halls with varying levels of productivity. Mobile games, social media, music, and Youtube seem to be very popular in my B block study. Also, many students can be seen hard at work getting ahead or cramming for tests later in the day. Some students even use their study to stretch and get a short nap to catch up on sleep from the night before.
“If I have free time I usually play Clash Royale on my phone,” Kwaku admitted. “That or listening to music are my favorite things to do when I’m light on work.”
What I’ve found is that the study hall isn’t always used to its highest potential in high school, but it still has a ton of benefits. The study hall serves to be a useful free period where students can learn to manage their own time and better prepare themselves for academics and the future.
