By Jordan Jenkins
The transition into the new year signals the start of many things, but perhaps the most relevant to many students here at Apopka High School is the beginning of the new semester. For some, such as sophomore Jackson Houvouras, the second semester offers the potential for a new start, both within and outside the bounds of school. 
“If I’m talking school-wise, my main goal for the second semester would be to get straight A’s, but I feel like that’s what most students that want to pass their classes set as a goal,” Jackson said. “I’m really trying to end up with an A in AP World [History] because, while the content isn’t that difficult, I’m not an amazing studier so my test scores are occasionally subpar.”
He also shared his plans to make more music in the second semester, saying, “I got a whole beat machine and program at my house, but I never got around to actually doing anything with it, so I plan on getting on that over the next few months.”
Touching on a common goal, he also stated he wished to be healthier, expressing that while he didn’t see himself as being in bad shape, he had been eating “hella fast food” and wanted to eat better.
AHS sophomore Marla Horn expressed similar sentiments, saying, “I would also like to work out more, because I used to work out a lot last year, but I stopped before break. So now some of the definition is gone that I worked hard for.” She was also aiming for academic success in the second semester, specifically in some of her more challenging AP classes, saying, “I’d like to pass AP Chemistry, because that’s a very hard class, and I would like to receive the credit for it and taking that AP exam.”
For others, such as AHS senior Dazhir Walker, the second semester holds great importance in terms of their plans for the post-high school future. His primary goal for the second semester involved his plans for joining the military after graduation, saying that, “I have goals of being in a military band and auditioning for that so that I can be a part of that.” He elaborated, saying that he needed to set up the interviews and auditions in the next couple of months, and that getting through that was a major goal for his second semester.
One of the most common feelings expressed while talking to students was the simple desire to “survive” the second semester. As said by Michelle Taylor, one of the many guidance counselors here at AHS, “Students start out the year strong and tend to hit a slump in their academics after Christmas break that only gets worse after spring break.” The increased stresses of testing and greater pressure in academics can often lead to students falling behind.
When asked what advice she would give to students going into the second semester, Mrs. Taylor said, “I think the best things students can do is to change their perspective and see the second semester as a new beginning and a chance to bring up their grades and overcome any obstacles they had in the fall and overcome the temptation of just sliding through the second semester. The school year is a long distance race, not a sprint, that starts in August and staying the course is the best piece of advice I can give. ”