Pencil, check; calculator, check.

Formal attire, check; dance ticket, check.

The ACT and Turnabout dance will both be held today.

Andrew Berger, sophomore, plans on attending both events, and said he is under more pressure preparing for the two at the same time.

“I just feel like it adds an unnecessary amount of stress,” Berger said. “I’ve been so focused on the ACT, and I know that Turnabout is going to sneak up on me.”

Berger said he has had to mentally prepare more for today because he has not taken the ACT before.  His primary focus has been on the ACT because he sees it as having a more lasting impact.

“As nice as going to Turnabout is, the ACT can determine where you are going to college and your degree,” Berger said. “The ACT is honestly a bigger deal.”

He added that he would rather be able to put his full focus into each event separately rather than being forced to choose one over the other.

Faith Kabuba, senior, is the student president of Marquette Academic and Cultural Club (MACC), the organizers of the dance. She said the date and times for the dance are decided by Freshman Principal Carl Hudson over the summer or in May. MACC did not know the date of the dance until the start of the school year.

Kabuba said that last year’s dance was scheduled for the first Saturday of February. This date conflicted with many people’s schedules as multiple overnight trips take place during that weekend.

Hudson said that with the date of the dance being one of the first decided, it becomes difficult to avoid these scheduling conflicts.

Unlike Berger, Kabuba said having the events overlap is beneficial for the test takers. 

“I feel like it will be a great way to unwind after taking the long test,” Kabuba said.

Kabuba added that there is not much stress when preparing for the dance and ACT because of the 7-8 hour gap in between them.

Turnabout is not the only dance scheduled for the same day as an ACT. This year’s Prom is set for April 13, the same day as that month’s ACT.

Junior Tarun Narayan, vice president of the Junior Class officers,  worked with the other officers in preparing for Prom.

Narayan said that, similar to the Turnabout dance, Prom was not scheduled for the same day as the ACT intentionally.

While not intentional, Narayan said that having the dance and ACT coinciding is a good idea.

“The best way to handle the ACT is to have something to destress right afterwards,” Narayan said, “With Prom, you’re able to go out with your friends, have a fun night, and it takes your worry away of what you got on the ACT.”

While Narayan understands how some people could find setting up for the ACT and Prom at the same time stressful, he said it will be beneficial overall.

“In the long run, it will be a blast. You’ll get there and forget everything,” Narayan said.