By  Ashton Nelson

 It’s that time of the year again folks! STAAR is right around the corner and every student in the state of Texas is getting prepared and ready. STAAR puts a lot of pressure on many students all across the state every year.

      Teachers prepare lessons for weeks, even months before the big test in attempt to prepare students for everything. Depending on the grade level, students will take a test on a specific subject and will have up to five hours to complete it.

     Most students take STAAR very seriously considering it is a major test that colleges will eventually look at. Students are told to go to bed early, eat a good breakfast, bring a water bottle, a pencil, and a jacket.

     After the test, students have the option of either sleeping, or reading a book. Some take the opportunity to catch up on some rest, others stare blankly around the classroom for hours until the whole school is finished and everyone can be dismissed together.

     I think that STAAR should be presented as less of a big deal. While it is a major test, and students should take it seriously, making it such a big deal can have the opposite effect. Students get overly stressed and worked up over the test to a point where they can’t even focus. Students should focus on mental health, preparedness, and relaxation during the weeks and days before STAAR so when it comes time for the big day, everyone will do their best.