Schreiber students understand pressure and stress.
When students enter high school, they want time to focus on the adjustment period.
However, they are quickly thrown into the culture of getting into college. This immense pressure almost instantaneously has an effect on underclassman, as they quickly succumb to the pressure that is felt by upperclassmen, regardless of how far away they may be from the college process.
“I do not have one specific dream school as of now,” said sophomore Tori Finkle. “But I know that the stress of getting into whatever defines a ‘good’ school consumes most of what I think about and causes a lot of anxiety for me. It kind of takes over my mind most of the time and one test grade I’m not completely satisfied with can really affect my mood for the whole day.”
Many students do not realize that it is more important to excel in a few difficult courses or activities, than scramble to manage too many.
As underclassmen, students should be establishing themselves and figuring out the best study methods that work for them.
The first two years of high school should be about exploring interests and becoming the best possible student.
Many underclassmen feel pressure from parents and peers to take Advanced Placement courses without realizing that it is totally normal for the classes to be challenging and overwhelming at first.
This leads them to experience too much pressure and anxiety too quickly, and leads many students to be constantly worried that their best is not good enough.
It is more important for students to take on what they can handle.
It is more impressive for students to take one or two AP classes and excel in them than to take four or five and do poorly.
Although it is important for students to do well during their freshman and sophomore year, they should try and delay their stressing out for as long as possible, as this makes it harder to achieve success and happiness in school.
“The pressure has made me work too hard and jeopardize my health too many times. I don’t get enough sleep, and I get back pain,” says junior Paige Torres.
During their teenage years, students are faced with decisions that can determine the course of their lives.
Parents, faculty, and students all talk about the constant decision making.
Even though people have little control over the fact that they will worry about where they attend college, they should try to do their best to minimize and manage stress in order to be as successful as possible.
The pressure to succeed comes from the high level of competition, and makes it harder to do well.
As an underclassman, I can easilyunderstand how quickly the stress of getting into a good college can creep up.
However, it is important to keep things in perspective and realize that everyone will end up at the school that is right for them.