COVID-19 has brought unprecedented times, with many of us struggling to keep in touch and socialise with our loved ones. We have also found difficulty with adjusting to the rapidly changing restrictions that are imposed on our daily lives, causing levels of anxiety to skyrocket. However, we also feel perturbed for many other reasons. For students, many of us continue to experience stress as we struggle to adapt to unfamiliar conditions while reintegrating back into school life after the summer break.
Yet, stress in school is nothing new: In fact, many have acknowledged that it is one of the biggest factors that affect teenagers’ mental well-being. Why exactly is that so?
The Medical News Today states that we feel stressed when we are “not able to cope with specific demands and events”. There are many occasions where students might not be able to manage those demands and events, such as struggling to meet the excessive amount of academic and social expectations that we receive from adults and peers, and the copious amounts of school work that piles onto our desks. These responsibilities can make us feel easily agitated.
Many students experience anxiety and stress as part of a daily routine. I have found it exceptionally onerous to adjust to unfamiliar environments especially as I set foot in a completely new phase of life as a high schooler. High school comes with a wave of pressure and independence, caused by an increase of homework and tests, along with many other concerns that slowly conquer every corner of our minds. The strain that school creates on our mental health has afflicted many high schoolers, leaving us defeated by the burdens of school life, resulting in an increase of irritability, fatigue, and angst.
If stress is so common and so deeply embedded into our day-to-day school lives, why is it so difficult to prevent it from reigning over our minds? We may find ourselves susceptible to pressure for many reasons. First of all, many of us do not know how to remain composed when we are demanded an unmanageable amount of tasks. There is no “correct” way to stop ourselves from feeling overwhelmed as we all respond to stress differently in contrasting situations.
Schools have often neglected the question of how to cope with pressure, despite it being amongst the major problems being confronted by students, leaving them more vulnerable to anxiety. Issues on stress are rarely on the table, overshadowed by other topics, and left concealed under the surface. The lack of opportunities to communicate with other people on our emotions leaves many students to be consumed by their own thoughts, which wreaks havoc on their mental state.
Then how exactly can we tackle stress? As mentioned, because students feel and respond to it differently, there is no single right or wrong way. However, with time, we are able to find our own unique ways of managing the thoughts that restlessly bolt through our minds. Many of us like doing activities that distract ourselves from our draining daily lives and talking to friends who can provide mutual comfort and understanding. Personally, I like to play volleyball and to hang out with my friends when I feel anxious as it helps me to distance myself from my concerns, as well as making me feel more relaxed. Many doctors and counsellors advise us to stay in contact with friends and family, to exercise, and to practice mindfulness as well.
Many students feel easily overwhelmed, irritated and downhearted when we are provided too many tasks. However, it is important to note that stress is not insurmountable: There are many ways we can ease it through activities such as exercising and talking to friends. UWC provides access to students to talk about our emotions by seeking help from a counselor, which could help many of us from being irritated as well. Although our methods may differ, by being able to pull ourselves together during unsettling times, we are able to perform more efficiently in our daily lives as well as staying healthy in the long term.
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