Study done among teens on their sources of stress.           www.cdc.gov
Study done among teens on their sources of stress. www.cdc.gov

As the semester comes to a close, my stress levels are flying through the roof. I feel so overwhelmed. I have quizzes and exams this week, with more exams and final papers due next week, and then finals week immediately after. To continue adding to the stress I also have a job, research, and multiple clubs that I need to keep up with.

I don’t know about you but as of right now I feel so stressed and have so much to do that I feel like my head is going to explode. Despite the stress I need to remind myself that after May sixth, the semester is over and I have the entire summer to relax. Just kidding.

Well at least not in my case. I still have a busy summer but that’s besides the point. Throughout this semester one piece of advice I always give my fiends or peers is “don’t over stress.” Why? Because the second you begin to over stress you start to freak out, and when you freak out you can’t focus, and when you can’t focus you can’t study.

So, realistically over stressing will only make the situation worse. You would think that by giving everyone this piece of advice I would learn to listen to myself, but no, instead I am being hypocritical by sitting here over stressing and thinking about the list of never endless assignments I have due.

I need to fix my attitude and calm down a little bit. I have too much to do to end up being unproductive. I’m gonna get my caramel macchiato from Starbucks, my skinny pop popcorn, and jam to J. Cole, Drake and The Weeknd. For once in this hectic week, I am going to relax and do absolutely nothing for a couple hours until I feel at ease.

See, the thing about me is when I feel over-stressed I turn to my favorite things that relax me or I talk it out. Being that all my friends are on the same boat as me they might not want me to hear me complain for a solid hour. I might even go for a run, who knows.

My point is, please do not over do it. It is so unhealthy to over stress. Also when you stress you don’t sleep as much, eat very healthy— if at all, and you have all these negative thoughts in your head and that is not good for anybody.

I understand it’s hard to not begin to overthink, and it’s hard to not feel like the world hates you and is throwing all sorts of curveballs at you. The thing is though, you need to fight through it and tell the world that you can take it, and you’re gonna get through it and prove yourself and the world wrong. You’re gonna do great.

Take a break, find a new study habit, take a night off and go get ice cream or just watch a movie with a friend. Do what you need to do to help calm you down and then come right back at it ten times harder and twenty times more motivated.

According to a study conducted by the CDC on yound adolescents, the most common source of stress for teenagers is school work. You’re not alone. Another thing, I know that there are multiple “study drugs,” and when people feel like they are at a really low point and don’t know what else to do to prosper academically this is thaw they turn to.

It is not worth the risk to take them. There are many alternatives that can help you prepare for final exams without having to take them. I am begging you that if you feel like you are at the bottom of a dark dark hole, you can climb out!

It is all up to you, you need to believe in yourself. You need to stay positive. That is the only way you will ever get through anything, not just finals. I know how you feel, but I also know that it is possible to get out of that dark hole and do amazing things you didn’t think you could do before.

I’ve been there and I’ve done it. I encourage all of you to stay positive, take breaks, and believe in yourself. Kill those finals my fellow SXU peers, we got this.

Susy Macias
Senior Viewpoints Editor

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