As the semester comes near to an end the stress of finals comes with it. Although students are stressed out all year long, this time of year can be especially stressful. During a Student Life in America survey, over 50% of students reported feeling stressed. Of that 50%, 25% reported that homework was their biggest source of stress, and on average teens are spending 1/3 of their time studying feeling stressed, anxious, or stuck. It is also reported that 17 year olds face the most stress out of all ages. This could be a factor of harder courses, preparing for colleges, or it could just plainly be the amount of homework assigned to these students. It has been said that a teenager of this era shows the same levels of stress and anxiety as a psychiatric patient in the 1950s. Not only is this amount of stress and anxiety bad for ones mental health, it also takes a toll physically. Extreme levels of stress can lead to headaches, high blood pressure, tense muscles, a weakened immune system, and insomnia.

It’s safe to assume that almost every student in Penns Valley has faced high amounts of stress at some point in their high school career. Personally, for me my stress is at it’s highest during the two weeks before the marking periods and semesters end. I will also admit, I do not handle my stress in the most beneficial or productive ways, if I do not stay on top of my stress I will often do things to distract myself from my stress, such as binge watch television shows or watch hours of YouTube videos, instead of knocking out the tasks that are the reason for my stress. Some tips I’ve picked up over the years to deal with stress include make a checklist and cross things off as you do them, get enough sleep and not stay up very late, do assignments as soon as you are given them, and most importantly, keep a positive attitude. If you clutter your mind with negative thoughts you will have no room for productivity.

Its important to remember, we all get stressed sometimes but it doesn’t have to affect us so negatively if we learn how to control it. Good luck with finals and try to stay CALM!