85% of the young people polled in a recent Associated Press survey said they felt stress at times, with 45% of the female population and 32% of the male population reporting frequent stress. When asked the top cause of stress, teenagers, aged 13-17, named academic performance.
At Academics Plus, we don’t find the results of the study all that surprising. We find it disturbing, but not surprising. Most students are under a great deal of pressure. It is not uncommon for middle and high school students to participate in after-school activities every day and not get home until 7 or 8 p.m., and then have to study into the wee hours of the morning. And lack of sleep and persistent anxiety can lead to wear and tear, even for the most resilient student. Upper level high school students must also face the fact that competition for slots at the top universities has quadrupled, and so the pressure is really on for the college-bound student.
It is absolutely essential that, at the very minimum, we teach the young people in our lives tools and strategies that can help them effectively overcome obstacles and deal with the pressure and stress. At Academics Plus, we incorporate a multitude of self-awareness, focusing, vision board and goal-setting exercises designed increase motivation and confidence, while decreasing the stress so many students experience. In an effort to offer our students and clients the means to the highest levels of success (and the lowest levels of stress and anxiety), we will, throughout the year, post blogs that offer tips, hints, and research studies on teen mental health, ADHD, and learning differences.
For more information, check out: www.academics-plus.com
