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.
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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.