This week, every Cal High student is navigating a battlefield filled with late nights, forgotten formulas, and the intense crushing weight of
burnout. But just this Monday, the finals week pressure cooker was put on “paws” with a visit from unconditional joy. Inside the small gym, students willingly abandoned their flashcards and all-nighters, finding a peaceful, necessary escape with the adorable therapy dogs brought from the Pet Prescription Team.
From stress to struggles, many students found comfort in the dogs. Senior Roel Lopez, who has five AP finals this week, explained why the visit was essential: “They’re super chill and laid back, they kind of put me at ease. They have this mellow vibe that easily eliminates a lot of stress”. The small gym then echoed with ‘awws’ as the dogs gave hugs and even showed off tricks.
Eli Magdaleno was thrilled to spend time with the furry friends, even getting to hold one of the smaller dogs. He took it “like an apology for the pain and suffering of finals week”. The warmth and weight of the small pup in his arms provided a sensory break from the intense glare of a computer screen and the pressure of endless notes. It was a tangible moment of calm where no one asked him about deadlines or definitions. That simple, unscripted affection acted as a perfect antidote to the stress, ensuring that he could return to his studies with refreshed focus.
For many students, the visit wasn’t just therapeutic—it was a chance for pure, uncomplicated fun. Senior Amber Saucedo, who went because she “absolutely loves animals and dogs especially, even better that it was free”,’ found that the simple presence of the pups boosted her mood immediately. ‘They were so cute, and they made me happy,’ she noted, giving a special Shoutout to Cotton, “she was the best.” Amber also found a moment of unexpected humor with another dog, Lucky, who was accompanied by his own personal book filled with cute and funny pictures about his life. This lighthearted, charming touch underscored the entire experience: a perfect, silly distraction from the seriousness of the school week.
While the students felt the relief, teachers like Mr. Palmer—who sees the struggle from the front of the classroom saw the necessity of the break. Teaching several periods of AP students, Palmer noted that the impact of finals week is rarely uniform. While some students lean on study groups and others prefer a “solo” approach, the underlying tension is a constant. By purposefully scheduling a visit during embedded support, Palmer offered his thirty students a rare chance to step away from the academic grind.
The result was almost unanimous. “Of my 30 students, all but two stayed in the small gym to hang out with the dogs and their owners,” Palmer observed. He described the environment as a “great atmosphere” that extended beyond his own class, as students without instructors began filtering in to join the peaceful scene. For Palmer, the benefit wasn’t just for the kids; it offered a much-needed mental reset for staff, too. “It was great to be outside of the classroom and take a break from grading stuff and put my mind to something else,” he shared, summing up his stance with a simple endorsement: “Therapy dogs—I’m for it!”
As the gym doors eventually closed and the dogs—from the energetic Lucky to the sweet Latte—headed home, the frantic energy of finals week seemed a little more manageable. The Pet Prescription Team provided more than just a distraction; they offered a shared moment of community for a campus often separated by individual testing schedules and heavy workloads. While the formulas and definitions still remain to be tested, Cal High students walked away from the gym with a little less tension in their shoulders and a lot more smiles on their faces.
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