After class, before class, behind class: overextended students face high stress rates
By Abri Nelson
Jonathan Carter already has enough on his plate without adding college applications. He has an afternoon job, volunteers as an Emergency Medical Technician, and is in his tenth year of violin lessons.
Carter, 18, a senior at Rockbridge County High School, said that he thinks the stress he feels comes more from teachers and workload than from anything else.
“Flat out, it builds up, there’s no way around it,” he said.
High school stress is increasing depression and anxiety among American teens, a recent study by the American Academy of Pediatrics shows, and even RCHS students who are not suffering from these psychological problems agree that there’s too much pressure on them.
Carter is one of thousands of high school seniors who are filling applications with ink this fall, listing their extra-curricular activities, and praying that something will stand out to admissions personnel at their colleges of choice.
Nationally, the number of students applying for college admission has been increasing over the past two decades. According to the College Board, about 60 per cent of all 18- to 24-year-olds are enrolled in four-year schools, whereas in 1985 the number was closer to 55 per cent. Not much in percentage points, but a significant amount in terms of numbers of students.
With national admissions at an all-time high, it is no wonder that some students are starting to feel pressured to look good and get ahead.
RCHS defines stress as “physical or mental strain,” according to junior class Assistant Principal Matt Crossman. Crossman said that when students seek help in dealing with stress, the office suggests tips for time management.
“I think most students add pressures on themselves that raise the stress level,” he said.
RCHS alumna Caitlin Clark, a junior at Washington and Lee University, agrees with Crossman. She said that she does not remember feeling stressed in high school, at least not in comparison to college.
“I can’t remember thinking, oh my gosh, I’m never going to get this done,” she said.
For Carter, going to college is a given. All of his classes are either Advanced Placement and Honors, and he wants to go to a four-year school to major in biology and become a doctor. He volunteers as an EMT from 6 p.m. to 6 a.m. on Friday nights and he is on call during the week if he is needed. He says the experience will more adequately prepare him for his future.
“You’d think that something like that would increase the stress, but for me it reduces it,” said Carter. He said that being busy outside of school actually helps him deal better with the stress of his classes and an uncertain future.
“Teachers are extremely intelligent, but sometimes they don’t know how to teach,” Carter said. “They find stuff they think is important, but I have yet to use most of it. That in itself adds to the stress.”
Junior Christine Boyer, 16, said that most of the stress she feels comes from her own expectations.
“I tend to do extra stuff that doesn’t need to be done,” she said. “I think stress is kind of psychological and if you tell yourself that you’re not going to be stressed, then you’re not.”
Christine’s dream college is the University of Virginia. Like Carter, she is taking Advanced Placement and Honors classes, but she is also involved in multiple after-school activities, including the Interact service club, National Honor Society, swimming and soccer.
Neither Christine nor Carter thought that the high school did much to help them deal with the stress.
“I think if you ask them, they will help you,” said Christine. “But I don’t think they extend a hand to help you.”
The high school started a teacher-student mentoring program this year designed to improve faculty and student relationships and to help the students plan for the future. But these two students do not think it is working.
“I’ve heard all the stuff that they want to do, but I’m a senior and I have no idea what is going on,” said Carter. “All this new stuff doesn’t make much sense.”
Several students cited feeling that the most stress comes from school work. But W&L’s Clark said that the key to success is to keep the right perspective.
“In the end, high school really isn’t the end of the world,” said Clark. “I feel like everything you do [in college] is more focused.”
Reporter Abri Nelson talks with Kaylee Hartung about teen stress
Produced by Washington and Lee journalism students.
Lead supervisor: Prof. Claudette Artwick
Reporting supervisor: Prof. Doug Cumming
Technical supervisor: Michael Todd