Student Success with Less Stress

“Teens across the U.S.A. are feeling such high levels of stress that it negatively affects every aspect of their lives,” states the American Psychological Association (APA). Based on their 2018 study, “Stress in America,” one-quarter of the students surveyed say they experience “extreme stress” during the school year. Youth in the age bracket of 13 to 21 (Generation Z) seem to be experiencing more physical and emotional symptoms, such as depression or anxiety triggered by stress than reported by millennials, Generation X, and baby boomers. Some psychologists, such as Michael Bradley from Feasterville, PA, states that “hard numbers tell us kids are more anxious and depressed than they have ever been.” Based on over 40 years of experience as a school psychologist for Delaware County Youth Detention Center in PA, Lew Meltzer would agree. Meltzer reported to me that over the years, he has seen a significant increase in a young person’s ability to constructively deal with ordinary life events, both in and out of school. One high school junior told me, “My friends and I often speak to one another about how stressed out we are. Grades, college entrance examinations, the pressure to win, to meet expectations, combined with a heavy workload, does not leave much time for us to be teenagers.” Negative stress often negatively effects a person’s ability to manage time, home and school responsibilities. Stress also adversely affects physical, sleep, eating, and social patterns. Our health, happiness, vitality, and success are dependent on the proper balance of mental, physical, emotional, and spiritual well-being. When one or more of these is strained, sometimes caused by stress or anxiety, we are thrown off balance. Stress in children and young adults can be related to society, world events, modern technology, expectations for school and extracurricular performance, and especially stressful for those seeking admission to colleges and universities. At home, students may experience family discord or violence, divorce, illness, the death of a family member, or a change in living conditions. Socially, youth can experience peer ridicule, bullying, fear of not being accepted, liked or popular, or not being competitive enough in sports or academics. Emotion or physical health issues can also cause stress. Over-extension is a common stressor for today’s students in our society. The stress inducers that students experience in school may include assignments, new material, deadlines, fear of poor grades, excessive workload, peer pressure, and finances. High school students worry about what they will do after graduation. “What career field should I go in to?” “How do I prepare for life after high school?” “Do I need a college education, and if so, what college and major should I pursue?” “What do I need to do to prepare for college?” “How do I get accepted, and once there will I be ready for it?” Many students get discouraged because they think that they can't make excellent grades. There are countless examples of extremely bright people who struggled in school. There are also just as many stories of average to below-average students who excelled in their schoolwork and who went on to be successful in their chosen professions. So, if intelligence is not always the key to making top grades (although being smart does not hurt), then what is the secret to doing well in school and doing so with less stress? It doesn’t mean just studying harder. It means knowing HOW to learn faster and better. It also means learning to use your natural mental capacity more efficiently. When we refer to “school,” we often use the word “education.” In reality, “education” involves so much more than what is taught in school. Many schools do not teach or at least spend minimal time on subjects that result in true success and happiness in life. Instead, they focus on course “content.” That is academic subjects that include math formulas, historical places and dates, chemistry equations, the names of the major rivers of the world, and so on. Then they test to see how much has been remembered. As time goes by, we don’t remember much of what we were taught. A lot of what we are exposed to in school we will never even use. This is not to suggest that academics are not necessary. Basic math principles, writing skills, history, government, sociology, language arts, health, just to name a few, are indeed important. What many schools do not teach are specific “critical skills” essential for success not just in school but SECTIONS A, B, and C will help you form the “critical skills” necessary to be successful not just in school, but in life. In other words, to be genuinely “educated.” Colleges and employers report that many high school graduates are lacking skills required to be successful in college and the job market. What is missing? Skills often referred to as “critical or soft skills.” Examples include self-management, communication, leadership, time management, teamwork, human relations. Families and the community play a significant role in the successful education of children. It is not just the teacher’s responsibility. According to Anne T. Henderson and Nancy Berla who wrote A New Generation of Evidence: The Family is Critical to Student Achievement, “parent involvement produces higher grades and test scores, better attendance and homework completed, more positive attitudes towards school, higher graduation rates, and increased enrollment in post-high school education.” Student Success with Less Stress provides many practical tools to help students excel academically and maintain a life balance resulting in increased opportunity for satisfaction, happiness, and success, both in school and out of school. You do not need to spend years searching for well-proven strategies to form a solid foundation for an education in life. I have done the research and work for you. All you have to do is read and apply the principles provided and a path to academic and life success (with less stress) lies ahead.