You get home at six o’clock after a long day of school, and you just want to relax, eat, and sleep. The only problem is that you realize you have a ton of homework due the next day, and you have to choose between having free time and spending the night doing your homework.

If you choose to have your relaxing time, your homework won’t get done, and your grades will suffer the consequences. On the other hand, if you choose to do your homework, you will get less sleep, be tired during school, and will have to wait until another day to relax. So what should you do?

This is an example of high school student stress. Everyone experiences stress. While many people may experience it for their first time in high school, others may experience it in their homes as well.

Senior Orlando Canizales said that he stresses about family issues and homework. For sophomore Maria Chavez, people that are selfish stress her out.

Out of the 16 students that were interviewed, 12 of them were stressed about school.  Junior Luis Martin stresses about his homework because he works, has to do a bunch of homework when he gets home from work, and he also wants some time for himself. Senior Ashley Oseda stresses about taking her ACT and SAT because she wants to go to a good college and have a successful life.

There are things students can do to manage their stress.  Ms. Blanco, the junior counselor, said, “Do not procrastinate. Organize yourself. Things are bound to pile up and stress you out. Realize to not sweat the small stuff. You can’t change the things around you, but you can change your attitude towards those things.”

If that doesn’t work, she said, to communicate with someone, to go run some miles–which is what she does– sit outside and enjoy the nature, or just have two minutes to yourself and breathe.

Indeed, releasing stress is very important.  According to the article “Stress Management” by Lawrence Robinson, Melinda Smith, and Robert Segal, Last, posted on the website HelpGuide.org, which is a non-profit guide to mental health and well-being  <http://www.helpguide.org/articles/stress/stress-management.htm> , “Some ways to release stress are to get moving by doing some sort of activity or sport, engage socially, alter your situation by managing your time in a better way, accept the things you can’t change, make time for fun and relaxation, and adopt a healthy lifestyle.”

Students have their own ways to release stress. Junior Estefany Zelaya reads, listens to music, works out, draws, and by writes poems. For senior Galilea Campos, speed skating on ice, going out with her friends, and sleeping are stress relievers.

Stress affects people differently. Senior Cristian Lara said, “I become more aggressive.” Stress makes junior Brian Colby want to stay away from people, be less social, and be more reserved. Junior Vivian Amador said, “I become lazier with my work.”

According to the article “Stress Symptoms, Signs, and Causes,” posted on the same website<http://www.helpguide.org/articles/stress/stress-symptoms-causes-and-effects.htm>, “ Stress can cause you to have aches, pain, nausea, dizziness, chest pain, rapid heartbeat, frequent colds, eating more or less, sleeping too much or too little, isolating yourself from others, procrastinating or neglecting responsibilities, using alcohol, cigarettes, or drugs to relax, nervous habits such as nail biting, and pacing, and so much more.”

Interestingly, some students think about stress in a positive way.   “I concentrate more on my work,” said Junior Estefany Zelaya.

Similarly, senior Genesis Sotomayor said that stress makes her work better because she’s trying not to focus on whatever is stressing her out.

If you can’t handle your stress, then you should not be afraid to ask for help. Guidance counselor  Ms. Blanco says, “You should go to a counselor’s office or to your parents.”