Phillip Nelson takes a break to relieve some stress before finals. photo by Kaylee Held
As the first semester of the 2019-2020 school year comes to a close, students are in the midst of a whirlwind of pressures, and can lose sight of the importance of finals.
Although the past 18 weeks have been riveting, what may have seemed like the fastest semester of high school has left students pleading for a break. The freshmen are about to embark on their first finals week as they near the end of 2019, a year of a major social and academic change for them. Sophomores are entering the middle of high school towards a point of seemingly no escape. Juniors are met with the pressures of colleges, a crucial year on transcripts, the SAT, and more. While seniors are finishing up college and scholarship applications, as well as maintaining their grades after finals in order to graduate, they are preparing to say goodbye to the life they have known for the past four years. With all of this in mind, it can be very difficult for students to retain their focus and do their best during finals.
Stress is a very common feeling among most high school students; however, not many actually acknowledge what stress is and how it manifests itself within students. Natalie Koncz, a mental health professional at TJ, expresses that stress is versatile in appearance. “It can sometimes look like anger, sadness, and trouble with regulating emotions (crying, yelling, shutting down, etc.) There are physiological symptoms like heart racing, cloudy thinking, sweating, and shallow breathing, which can lead to disruptions in sleeping and eating.” Students are lined up to see the support staff daily in regards to managing and coping with stress. Whether this stress is due to academic, personal, social, or familial problems, there are many resources available at TJ for students. If left unresolved, Koncz proceeds by saying “[Stress] can impact daily functioning, mental health, physical health, and interpersonal relationships. If stress is not dealt with in a healthy and productive manner, a person’s overall well-being can certainly be affected.”
According to a study conducted by MentalHelp in 2016, 89 percent of students were stressed at least two to four times in one semester, and 30 percent reported they were stressed for the entire duration of the semester. These statistics do not form without any consequences, as more than 34 percent of students reported that stress has negatively impacted their academic productivity. As a student in high school, college, or even an adult in the workforce, stress is inevitable. The significance of this is how one chooses to manage their stress. TJ sophomore Avery LoJacono explains that her feelings of stress are typically a product of feeling disorganized. “Making a plan towards what I need to get done helps me boost my productivity and keeps me organized. This keeps me on track and allows me to get exactly what I need done, in a timely manner.”
Engaging in healthy coping skills is a crucial solution to eliminating stress. Koncz suggests, “Putting nutritious foods in your body and allowing your body to get enough rest is crucial. The body runs off the fuel we give it, so fuel it well.” Other healthy coping options include sleeping and exercising. As finals approach, students should make sure to adjust their sleeping schedule to allow for eight hours at a minimum. They should ask managers to be released from work early and set aside enough time to study and sleep. With any extra time, exercising is a great way to release stress by releasing toxins through your pores. Exercising also releases endorphins, which trigger a positive feeling in the body. Endorphins also interact with receptors in the brain that reduce the perception of pain. Finally, talking with a trusted adult helps with applying these coping skills. Koncz is one of many incredible adults at TJ who are there for students and want to see them succeed.
Students, parents, teachers, or anybody who needs to hear this, remember to take care of yourself. Get plenty of rest, drink enough water, and create healthy study habits. Plan out your week and you will benefit in the end. Make sure you connect with your teachers to know what the finals will cover so you can come in as prepared as possible. Every day is a new day, so refuse to let the natural feeling of stress overwhelm you and seek the help that you need today.
