How to Function with Student Stress

Rather it be from hectic schedules with work, challenging classes, overwhelming thoughts of future plans, or anything else bothering a normal high school student, one thing is evident and blatantly obvious; we all suffer from some sort of stress. Everyone’s stress is different, however, and can be hard to deal with in the jungle that is our modern day school system. Take me, for example, someone who quite frankly has many factors of my life that lead to extreme stress. Someone who’s a gay male with a homophobic dad who’s still in the dark about his sexual orientation. Someone who is a part of Quiz Bowl, Leadership, NHS, Band, Jazz, employee at Burger King, interning for the mayor of Jackson, and of course, the creator of the Michigan Center Creative Writing Club. Someone who is doing everything and anything to get into a nice college by doing extracurriculars and by taking advanced classes. And most importantly, someone who understands what many, if not all, students are going through with their stress. The question is, however, how do you handle stress in high school? Or, better yet, how do you live with it in your everyday life?

The first step is to realize that you’re not alone in what you’re going through. Let me repeat that just in case you read it wrong, YOU ARE NOT ALONE. I went into writing this first entry of the handbook with a few goals in mind and one of them was hitting home the importance of waiving the mindset of solidarity in one’s stress. Be it from the smallest freshman, to the tallest senior, everyone knows that feeling of being overwhelmed. And I mean everyone, that includes your parents or teachers who you might think have no idea what it’s like to be in your shoes. But trust me, they do, because they were once right where you’re at right now. The only thing that you need to do is reach out to someone in your life and just ask them for help. Tell them you feel like you can’t breathe, tell them it feels like your drowning. Because it does. Stress can do that, but if you open up to others and allow them into your world their own personal experiences can help you reach the surface before you drown.

Another thing that I find is helpful when dealing with my stress is what I call “The Light at the End of the Tunnel” technique. All of the dedication to something that you have put into a passion of yours will end up succeeding if you get past this stressful moment right now. That drama with your friend will blow over, you just have to give it time. You will graduate high school. I really love applying this method to my everyday life when I’m feeling overwhelmed or even just feeling like everything I’m doing isn’t worth anything. Think back to a time when you stressed out over a deadline and then you finished it just fine. Think back to how it felt like a weight was lifted off of your shoulders. That’s the feeling that will motivate you when everything feels like it’s too much. That feeling of relief and reassurance should be something that you cherish because it can be a goal that helps deal with stress.

My last tip, that I really think is the most important thing you can allow yourself to do, is to let yourself feel sad, overwhelmed, anxious, scared or whatever is causing your stress. Breaking down is okay. I know this might sound like something not to, but bottling all of your emotions up is so unhealthy. It’s better to allow yourself to experience that pain then to let that pain control you and build up until you explode. A good way to spill out these emotions is to seek out professional help or an adult you can trust in. A good friend is always nice to talk to, but remember that they are just teenagers as well and they have their own personal stress factors. So I just want to clarify something at the end of this handbook entry, stress is okay. Stress is normal. Stress is hard, and people understand that. Keep your head up, you will finish high school. You will succeed. I know you will.