Being a junior in high school is one of the most stressful experiences I have been through and the school isn't even
halfway over. There is so much pressure to take this class and be a part of this club and to figure out what you want
to do with the rest of your life.
halfway over. There is so much pressure to take this class and be a part of this club and to figure out what you want
to do with the rest of your life.
New York University (NYU) completed a study focused on high school juniors and their stress and how they cope
with stress. One conclusion that they came to was that "nearly half (49%) of all students reported feeling a great
deal of stress on a daily basis and 31 percent reported feeling somewhat stressed." They also found that female
students had "significantly higher levels of stress than males (60% vs. 41%)."
with stress. One conclusion that they came to was that "nearly half (49%) of all students reported feeling a great
deal of stress on a daily basis and 31 percent reported feeling somewhat stressed." They also found that female
students had "significantly higher levels of stress than males (60% vs. 41%)."
So why is it so common for students to become stress? I believe it's all because of the piles of homework we get
each night and juggling school, jobs, and for most, sports or other extracurricular activities, all at the same time.
each night and juggling school, jobs, and for most, sports or other extracurricular activities, all at the same time.
According to U.S News, “students should only be doing about 10 minutes of homework per night per grade level,”
when in reality students are “more than three hours on homework each school night, with 11th graders spending
more time on homework than any other grade level.”
when in reality students are “more than three hours on homework each school night, with 11th graders spending
more time on homework than any other grade level.”
(Maroke)
A problem that presents itself because of the pressure to succeed is that students don't know how to cope with stress.
There are those students that thrive on the pressure but then there are those who don't. NYU found that "38 percent
of students reported getting drunk and 34 percent of students reported getting high on an illegal substance," as a
result of stress.
There are those students that thrive on the pressure but then there are those who don't. NYU found that "38 percent
of students reported getting drunk and 34 percent of students reported getting high on an illegal substance," as a
result of stress.
A solution to this problem is allowing students to have more one on one conversations with their guidance
counselors (Litvinov). I believe that it would be a great solution by having students become comfortable around
their counselors and being able to have a conversation with them. Unfortunately, in my school, there are only two
guidance counselors for seventh to twelfth grade so it’s hard to even get in there to meet with them because you
have to book an appointment a week or so ahead to meet during the time that works best for you.
counselors (Litvinov). I believe that it would be a great solution by having students become comfortable around
their counselors and being able to have a conversation with them. Unfortunately, in my school, there are only two
guidance counselors for seventh to twelfth grade so it’s hard to even get in there to meet with them because you
have to book an appointment a week or so ahead to meet during the time that works best for you.
Now, don’t get me wrong, the guidance counselors are some of the nicest and friendliest women I have ever met but
I believe that there could be ways to improve how they work to help more students but then again, this is only one
solution for students and it might not help everyone.
I believe that there could be ways to improve how they work to help more students but then again, this is only one
solution for students and it might not help everyone.
I think that, as a student, if we knew how to properly manage stress and how to prevent, I think that the stress levels
among high school students would decrease. I also think that there could be changes made to the school systems as
well. For example, classes should only be allowed to give a certain amount of homework each night and the school’s
guidance counselors should be more available to students when they need their help.
among high school students would decrease. I also think that there could be changes made to the school systems as
well. For example, classes should only be allowed to give a certain amount of homework each night and the school’s
guidance counselors should be more available to students when they need their help.
Works Cited
Litvinov, Amanda, et al. "10 Challenges Facing Public Education Today." NEA Today, National Education Association, 3 Aug. 2018, neatoday.org/2018/08/03/10-challenges-facing-public-education-today/. Accessed 14 Nov. 2019.
Lohmann, Raychelle Cassada. "How Much Homework Is Too Much for Our Teens?" U.S News, U.S News and World Reporting, 20 Mar. 2018, health.usnews.com/wellness/for-parents/articles/2018-03-20/how-much-homework-is-too-much-for-our-teens. Accessed 14 Nov. 2019.
Maroke. School Classroom with Blackboard. Time, Time USA, 22 Aug. 2019, time.com/5658266/colorado-district-kitty-litter-buckets-lockdowns/. Accessed 14 Nov. 2019.
"NYU Study Examines Top High School Students' Stress and Coping Mechanisms." NYU, New York University, 11 Aug. 2015, www.nyu.edu/about/news-publications/news/2015/august/nyu-study-examines-top-high-school-students-stress-and-coping-mechanisms.html. Accessed 13 Nov. 2019.
I think this is a good blog about how high school can be stressful. There is many
ReplyDeletethings happening at once at school that could make it overwhelming. I also feel that we
should have more counselors at the school.
We now have three guidance counselors, one for middle school and two for high school, but I think your point is still valid. Do you think that students could be taught stress relief in some of their core classes?
ReplyDeleteI think that if students were taught stress relief in their core classes, I think it would help relieve some of the stress that they are feeling. If students knew how to cope with stress, it would help them while they're in high school as well as in the future.
DeleteAs a new counselor in the school (new to this role, at least), I hear what you are saying, Jaclyn. I think I will see most kids individually once or twice a year, but for some 9th-11th graders that might be it unless there's an obvious reason for me to seek them out OR unless they make an appointment with me, which I welcome! It definitely doesn't usually take a week to get in, especially if the student emails me directly. I wold love to help with stress relief lessons in core classes. I think you learn a bit about this in health class, but it's not enough. I think we counselors sometimes feel like we are intruding in class time for various presentations, but perhaps if the stress lessons could be tied in to an aspect of the curriculum (like these blogs, or a book the class is reading) it could work out. I think it's important. Thanks for writing about it.
DeleteI like how you wrote about the amount of stress high schoolers feel and how students should learn to deal with their stress. Sometimes trying to deal with stress can be more stressful than the actual issue you are stressing about, which is a very important kill to learn.
ReplyDeleteI agree, I think that schools should limit the amount of homework, because having hours and hours of homework can be stressful and which should try and limit this.
ReplyDeleteI like how you informed the readers on how much stress students are really dealing with on a daily basis. I feel like lots of times parents and teachers don't realize how difficult it is to be a junior in highschool.
ReplyDeleteHave you looked at other schools and how they might have ways to help their students? I think that for us, the rule for having a sensory break should be more enforced. Another thing that I've heard that a school somewhere does is have puppy therapy.
ReplyDeleteI love your use of rhetorical questions and how you added the part about what to do with the rest of your life because college is approaching so fast and it is indeed very stressful.
ReplyDelete