by: Fuyu Banno
Graphics Editor

By the time this article is published, I can guarantee that people will spot me prancing around the school radiating joy and whimsy – indeed, the direct opposite of what people think of me when I grace them with my presence during the first 90% of the year. Between eye bags that never seem to disappear and non-verbal responses during first period classes, happiness is rare when I’m at school. You’re probably wondering: just what happened to me that I’m not wearing the same hoodie five days in a row? The answer is, of course, the end of AP testing.

I know, I know. The horrors of AP testing have been haunting a vast number of high schoolers across the country for years and years. I am not special; everyone suffers the same experience. So today, in honor of all AP students, let’s take a quick trip down AP studying memory lane.

For those who speak a foreign language at home and enrolled in the AP test for their “fluent” language thinking it would be an easy 5, the weeks before the AP test can be subtly described in two words: living hell. Now, it isn’t because these bilingual students are scared of what is going to be on the test, but rather the possibility that something will go wrong, resulting in anything but a 5. Common hallucinations during this time include friends going “I thought you were fluent” or family members going “I guess speaking [insert second language of choice] at home for the last [insert age] was absolutely useless.” In defense of many second language speakers, just because we can speak a language does not mean we can read and write fluently as well.

A more common AP testing topic is history. For many, an AP history class becomes an introduction to the bleak world of AP testing. But during the dark and cold times of studying for AP history exams, YouTubers seem to become god-like figures in the eyes of suffering AP history students. Heimler’s history, random adults making “Entire APUSH unit in 10 minutes” videos, and questionable animated versions of historical events become the hub for history learning. Trust me, if you find your friend spending 10+ hours on YouTube, they have a history exam in a week (or it’s time for your friend to undergo a serious online detox).

When it comes to STEM related AP testing, it’s a rare mixture of utter defeat and absolute certainty that you will ace the exam. The feeling is most common when sitting down to lock in and discovering you don’t even know where to study because nothing you do now can save you. You then get a jolt of confidence when you recognize a formula on your Instagram reels during your “quick” study break. Regardless, the number of chicken scratches on paper and random Reddit searches of “Am I going to pass the AP Calc exam?” skyrocket during this time.

Perhaps the experience is not universal, and there are students who take on the AP season with grace and ease (which cannot be possible). But if you are like me, the post AP season is where we thrive.