Coming back after summer break is often difficult and taxing on students. They must get reaccustomed to a new sleep schedule, as well as adjust to new classrooms with a new mixture of unknown people.

Second quarter is filled with thoughts of the upcoming holiday season, as well as finals in many classes. With relatives visiting the families of students, it is easy to lose focus in school, making it more difficult to keep up with fast-moving curriculums.

Fourth quarter is also the saddest quarter for many, due to the finality of it. Seniors experiencing their final days at Perry are forced to say their goodbyes as they go off to college, the military, the workplace, or otherwise. It is synonymous with the loss of an entire class as they leave campus permanently.

Third quarter is the time for events, with adored activities such as MORP, Perry Idol, Mr. PHS, and the annual Dodgeball tournament giving students a chance to enjoy the campus atmosphere outside of a classroom environment.

The theater’s upcoming production of Footloose is also among the list of events third quarter offers, and gives many students something to look forward to.

The week-by-week toil is broken up by many days off, breaking up the repetitive weeks slightly. These holidays give students relief, allowing them to keep up with everything going on within their lives at an easier pace. Students are given time to spend with their family and take a short break from stressful schoolwork.

The third quarter is also the least rigorous quarter due to the lack of major testing. During fourth quarter, finals apply an often overwhelming amount of stress with all of the studying necessary to succeed. Students are also being pushed to take the American College Testing (ACT) exam and Scholastic Assessment Test (SAT), bringing about even more stress. The recently implemented AZMerit standardized test also adds to the severity of the final quarter.

Third quarter is the calm before the storm, as well as a fresh start for students. After a long winter break, students have had time to refresh and prepare for the start of a new year and a new semester. The third quarter provides a clean slate when it comes to grades and often offers new classes.

In addition, third quarter marks the start of spring sports that many look forward to. It brings a new season of basketball, soccer and wrestling, that gives students several exciting events to attend throughout the quarter.

The third quarter is a breath of fresh air for students as it is filled with school events and lacks the pressure the other quarters apply. This is the time where we are given a chance to relax before the hectic final quarter begins.