Benji Boyd, Junior, Assistant Editor
With winter break rapidly approaching, many high schoolers feel that school has cranked up in intensity. Between teachers trying to cram one last unit in before the week off, to students desperately trying to make up missing assignments, to illness and burnout running rampant through the school, anyone could get a little stressed. However, is this the most stressful time for students? There seems to be a couple of likely contenders for time periods in which students experience the most stress, and, to figure out what the consensus is, a form was sent out to students of all grades. Freshmen through seniors shared their thoughts on school, stress, and how they cope when the workload gets too heavy.
Judging by the lamentations heard in classrooms and hallways and the general air of anxiety hanging around the school right before winter break, anyone might guess that this is the hardest time of year for students. After all, it’s the holiday season, and many students have religious or family commitments to keep up with on top of their school work. For those who are affected by the cold and darkness, it’s quite literally the worst time of the year. However, the weeks leading up to winter break received only the second most votes for most stressful. Winning the poll with 40% of votes was the end of quarter two, otherwise known as midterm season. According to students, the worst is still ahead of us, unfortunately.
When given the option to select why they find this time of year particularly stressful, almost 70% of poll-takers said that they have a larger workload than usual, or that their extracurriculars ramp up and they have a lot of extra activities on their plate. The increased intensity of sports, performing arts, and clubs in the middle of the year likely account for why no students put down the end of year and finals season as the most stressful. Students know that instead of winding down during vacation, they must be prepared to come back in full swing for midterms.
However, instead of spending winter break dreading these tests, the goal should be to use it to catch a much needed breath and really get some relaxation in. Knowing that a busy time might be on the horizon also provides the opportunity to brainstorm how to deal with it so it can go as smoothly as possible. When asked to comment how they deal with stress personally, some poll-takers decided to share their coping strategies.
“I just do all the things I’m able to do,” commented one busy performing arts student. “If I don’t have enough time for any assignments I just let my teachers know, they’re usually understanding about tech week since I do theater.” Another student responded, “Make schedules for myself and make sure I’m really checking in with myself. I try to journal and just really pace myself.” Further reinforcing that upkeeping mental health is critical, other students said, “I will make sure to take some time for myself amidst all of the studying and test-taking,” or that they “Try to do something enjoyable every day.”
Common responses mostly revolved around sleeping, procrastinating, or drinking coffee. The students who kindly took this form and decided to offer their suggestions to their peers prove that students themselves are great sources of coping mechanisms. If anyone is struggling, it’s worth asking a friend for support. Though we might be heading into a typical busy winter, it’s always best to look for the light at the end of the tunnel. Afterall, not a single student voted for any time after quarter two for the most stressful. So long as we stay in touch with ourselves and remember to take a breath every once in a while, we can all push through.