IN Peters Township April/May 2019 | Page 78

STRESSED OUT? PTHS COUNSELING OFFICE CAN HELP BY MIRJANA HUTNIK, PTHS SENIOR H igh school can be a stressful time for both students and parents. Students are often very familiar with the struggle of having what seems like mountains of work and numerous other obligations to fulfill. When things start to seem overwhelming, there is help available to try to decrease the toll stress can take both mentally and physically on students. Staying organized can often help eliminate stress. School becomes increasingly difficult as the years go on, especially for the many students at Peters Township High School taking honors or Advanced Placement (AP) classes. Students should be encouraged to organize all of the work and take note of important dates and deadlines. With that information, it becomes easier to plan out what to work on when. Then be sure to be diligent to adhere to the work schedule set out. “Don’t procrastinate,” warns Mrs. Leyna Steffen, Dean of College and Career Readiness at the High School. “Look ahead, prioritize tasks, and organize your time to help alleviate stress. Utilizing a planner to break down what is needed can also be helpful. Also, talk to your teachers if you have multiple projects or tests on one day and are uncertain how to best prepare.“ Standardized testing can be a daunting task for high school students. There are many different approaches used to tackling the test, and what works for one student, may not work for another. But working on areas that are typically problematic can help alleviate stress and the school provides quality resources to help. All students of Peters Township have access to Khan Academy, a free SAT prep tool that, when linked to PSAT scores, creates an individualized plan of study based on strengths and weaknesses displayed in the practice test. There are mini tests available to help identify strengths and weaknesses, and then activities that go further in depth to help in all subjects. Statistically, students who spent 6 hours on official SAT practice in Khan Academy raised their SAT scores by 90 points. In addition to Khan Academy, an SAT Test Preparation course is offered as a semester elective. Participation in school and community activities is something that can have a major influence on the lives of teenagers. This involvement is also sought out by colleges when reviewing an application. Whether it is an academic club or sport, it’s important to remember not to get involved simply to put it on a college resume. 76 PETERS TOWNSHIP Colleges look for a passion, so know yourself and prioritize what you are interested in,” added Mrs. Steffen. “While involvement in multiple clubs is impressive, don’t stretch too thin. Participate more heavily in activities that you enjoy and that will speak volumes on a college application.” Counselors also recommend that students think about what they will gain through involvement in a particular activity. Are the activities helping you to further explore your interests? Are you gaining personal satisfaction or gratification through your participation? Colleges are looking for students who participate in activities for purpose and meaning rather than a resume builder. The High School Counseling Office also offers a variety of resources for students and parents who may be feeling stress that goes beyond the norm. Often times, student will exhibit a drop in grades, irregular attendance, difficulty in interpersonal relationships, or chronic disciplinary problems. This may indicate a need for more intervention. “Our Student Assistance Program (SAP) is a great program for a student to have constant intervention to help get them back on track,” said High School Counselor Heather Prinsen. Students may be referred to the SAP program by parents, teachers, administrators, or even other students. The PTHS SAP team is comprised of trained professionals that include teachers, counselors, principals, and nurses. The team meets regularly to identify students, gather information, develop interventions to assist the student, and partner with community agencies; and all discussions and names are strictly confidential. The counseling office can even connect a family with outside resources that can provide support. “If a student is worried about a friend, or a parent is concerned about their child, we have resources available,” added Prinsen. “High School is an exciting time full of many opportunities and challenges, but we all handle that differently. We encourage families to have open communication with us so that we can help.” About the Author: Mirjana Hutnik is a senior at Peters Township High School and one of the editors-in-chief for the school news magazine. She is also on the softball team and enjoys spending time with friends in her free time. Next year she hopes to go to college to study journalism and political science.