The time has come once again to end a semester. The pressure is on, from the looming presence of exams to the stress of writing essays and applying for post-secondary schools. There is no doubt that this is a demanding time for students.
Young people can easily find themselves falling into a routine of going to bed too late, waking up early, perhaps eating poorly, and not socializing. Our lives now once again revolve around schoolwork and we’re beginning to disregard our basic needs or small pleasures because of the stress.
It is during times like these when we need the most support from both our teachers and parents to help us succeed. We need sympathy. We need our teachers and parents to acknowledge the crushing pressures and expectations we’re facing.
As I’ve surely said time and time before, we should not normalize this insane amount of pressure put on students, and youth should not allow themselves to be so exhausted and strained.
The end of a semester is always a hectic time; students are scrambling to hand in projects so they may raise their grades, teachers are working to mark our assignments and make sure we’ve completed all the required course work.
For those who do struggle with these issues, those who overwork themselves and crack under the strain of exams and finalizing the semester’s work, it’s important to seek help, prioritize and practice self-care.
These strategies are often overlooked, but we as students are not the only ones who can advertise them. Teachers can also take the step to talk to their pupils about coping with stress. There are plenty of websites, articles, content creators and even books that offer advice that teachers may share with students in their classrooms.
We should be mindful of both our physical and mental health as we prepare for exams. Even though we’re young, we’re definitely not invincible. In the long run, our late nights filled with endless studying, along with our constant state of stress and worry, can really not be healthy for our bodies and our psyche.
Macy How is a grade 11 student at Brooks Secondary School in Powell River.
