Op-Ed: Modern Day Issues for the Modern Day Student

By Wyatt Clegg

Wednesday, September 23, 2026

A Deering student waits in the guidance office. Photo credit: Wyatt Clegg

With the transition of new administration and the start of a new school year at Deering High School, students and staff wonder what solutions will be implemented in response to a variety of student issues.

In September of 1924 Deering High School first opened its doors on Stevens Avenue to students all across Portland. Over 100 years later it's still open and operating on Stevens Ave. Although the location and building has stayed the same, the students sure have changed. With new technology and rapidly changing school environments, challenges students face today look different than those for previous generations. Many feel the issues they experience aren't being addressed. 

According to a YaleNews study high school students reported negative feelings 60% of the time with the most common emotion reported being tired at 58%, and then the other most reported emotions all just under 50% were stressed, bored, calm, and happy. 

A lack of solutions for student issues directly impacts academic success, emotional well-being, and long-term social development. This is why it's crucial for students' thoughts, opinions and needs to be heard and met.

To help provide perspective over this topic I reached out to a variety of DHS community members including student Isabelle A, a 15 year old junior and social worker Jake Grande.

“I know it's kinda cliche to say but honestly the work and just also just like being in class and being in school around people for so long in school it's often kinda exhausting for me personally," said Isabelle A. Isabelle often finds herself struggling with the environment of school itself, and the workload she faces as a student attending DHS. She struggles to find possible solutions that the administration could make to help fix these issues stating, “I don't know. It's just the general nature of school but I would say find your own resources, places where you can just get away from everyone and feel safe. Maybe a certain teacher or classroom is what I find to be the best way to deal with it.” She finds that students advocating and finding solutions themselves are often the best way to face student led issues.

Some other issues students face are seen first hand by social workers here at DHS. “The issues I see students dealing with the most, in no particular order, include anxiety, depression, social challenges, trouble focusing, and housing issues. There are a lot more, but just to name a few,” said Jake Grande, Deering social worker. Grande often sees these issues appear all throughout the school in people from all different walks of life. He views some possible ways of solving these issues students face. He said, “I really encourage them to lean into the help that the staff here can offer. Reach out to your school counselor, social worker, or a trusted teacher!” 

Students deal with issues ranging from small to large everyday, but that doesn't mean they have to live with them and stay quiet. Speaking up, reaching out to others friends, teachers, or staff, and working together as a community can help turn your issues into real change. Reach out and find help when you need it, and although students may not have the final say they do have a voice and speaking up is often the first step to making things better for not only yourself but others too.