Students are hopeful of ridding their lives of stress, yet with all of the responsibilities that comes with being a high-schooler, that goal may just be out of reach; or is it? Whether it be freshmen adjusting to their new high school life, or seniors applying to colleges, nearly every aspect of high school can potentially cause stress.
Monstrous amounts of homework, demanding sports and clubs, and hectic personal lives often riddle students with seemingly unavoidable stress. This can stem from all areas of one’s life; whether it be in or out of school. Ms. Heffernan said that, “school is a huge stressor” but so are many other aspects of one’s life.
According to Ms. Lopes, SHS school psychologist, friends, family, school-work and change are all causes of stress. To describe why stress can be so hard to avoid, she said that lots of stress is, “outside of control of a kid.” She added that, although uncontrollable circumstances may seem overwhelming, students must not remain stressed for too long.
Ms. Heffernan’s handout on stress, titled “What is Stress?” explains that stress isn’t always unhealthy. Although too much stress can cause physical and mental burnout, middle-range healthy stress can cause students to perform at their best. Ms. Heffernan revealed that many of her previous students benefitted from having some stress because they were more motivated. Sophomore Sam Mercer agrees with this idea that healthy stress is beneficial. He said, “I feel pressured when I’m busy.”
Not all students share this same attitude. Junior Margaux Bertola admits that becoming overly stressed is a weakness for her. This has caused her to practice the art of mindfulness for her AP Lang Personal Credo Project. She said, “I’m a high – stress person and put a lot of pressure on myself,” which has prompted her to take time everyday to practice deep breathing and just focus.
Senior Jamie Kelleher is confident that she has mastered the no-stress life. She loves to practice Zen and attempt to clear her mind. Her best advice is to “concentrate on the moment and take your mind out of the future.” she said. To do this, she said, “I make a tent in the corner of my room and I sit in it. I make carpets out of fleece blankets and have Buddha trinkets hanging from the ceiling.”
Aside from achieving Zen, there are many other options for alleviating stress. Among students’ favorites are “deep breathing” said sophomore Jackson Schwarz, or taking “a bike ride” said sophomore Frank Crowley. These two physical activities are just a couple of many physical stress relievers. A creative handout that Ms. Lopes and Ms. Heffernan share, titled “101 Stress Relievers”, lists several ideas for relieving stress. Some suggestions include writing a poem, watching clouds, or waking up early. Some more unusual tips include “get up fifteen minutes early”, “do a good deed” and “walk barefoot in the grass.” School can be overwhelming at times, but there are simple solutions that can help everyone to avoid becoming overly stressed.