The time in which a student attends school is a time of self-discovery alongside the hefty workload, relationships, and uncertainty of what the future holds. A common struggle amongst students, no matter the culture or where they come from, is dealing with the stress of school and the work that comes with it. The majority of students deal with the academic pressure of being frequently told that school dictates whether they’ll be successful in the future.  
 
   Junior Mauricio Soza-Lacayo feels that he himself is a good example of what life is like as a stressed student with little-to-no healthy coping mechanisms. “I have a bad habit of continuing to push through the stress that school causes without coping with much else,” he says. “I just tell myself to keep pushing through and hope that I can make it out. I also tend to be avoidant of what stresses me out at times which is something I’m working on about myself. People often tell me that I look physically tired or stressed and as a student who’s taking both AP Bio and AP U.S. History, I can say that I am.”  
 
   On the other hand, senior Genesis Reina says activities such as playing soccer, drawing, hanging out with friends and listening to music help her manage her stress. Senior Nova Peña, a member of the band, says that playing music helps them to de-stress. 
 
   Before any student can be successful, it’s important to know how to cope with the stresses of school healthily while balancing life, fun, relaxation, and getting work done.  
   
Ways to Cope 
    Senior Marcos Villalobos, president of the Art & Animation Club, states, “My friends are a great escape from the everyday stresses of school. They make me smile, laugh, feel at peace, and take my mind off whatever is troubling me. In addition, if I need help or support, I know they’ll always be there. The Art & Animation Club also plays a large role in helping me de-stress.” 
 
   Sophomore Milliani Vento stated, “My friends make my life better in every way. I am a pretty social person, and socializing helps separate me from the stress. Laughing with my friends reminds me that my problems aren’t all that big and bad as they seem, especially when my friends help me through them.” 
 
   “I make time for hobbies that help me relax,” says senior Gabriella Porter. “I believe it’s important to set aside time for activities you enjoy rather than working all the time. I personally enjoy playing video games and sleeping to recharge in my free time.” 
 
   Although school and its work are very important for a student’s future, constantly working and doing nothing else can create an overwhelming and repetitive life. It’s important to take part in healthy activities and spend time with loved ones to create balance and remind yourself what you love most.  
 
A Counselor’s Take 
   Though school and the work it entails can cause a great deal of stress for students, the existence of counselors provides another outlet for anxieties whether school–related or not. School counselors are a great alternative for students who can’t afford therapy outside school but need someone to talk to about things that trouble them other than friends and family.  
 
   Senior counselor Mr. Cuevas states, “Any adult now can relate to the stress of school as we’ve all been through it before. The workload can be very taxing and the weight on a student’s shoulders of their future in their own hands can sometimes cause them to spiral out of control the same way stress can be heavy on adults.  I feel as though many adults compare a student’s stress to their own in that moment and forget just how stressful high school can be, especially going into a student’s senior year. Just like adults have stressful lives both in and out of the office, students have other issues in their lives that cause stress both in and out of school. It’s important for students to have good support groups, hobbies and coping mechanisms to prevent them from straying away from the road to success.” 
 

Top Student Stressors

Common sources of student stress include:

• School
• Homework
• Extracurricular activities
• Social challenges
• Transitions (e.g., graduating, moving out, living independently)
• Relationships
• Pressure to succeed
• Work

Ways to Cope with Student Stress

• Get enough sleep
• Use guided imagery
• Exercise regularly
• Listen to music
• Build a healthy support network/circle
• Eat regularly and healthily

Source: Top 10 Stress Management Techniques for Students (verywellmind.com)