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21 · OAKVILLE BEAVER Friday, October 9, 2009 Senior student offers advice on managing stress By Jasmine Ault GR. 12, T. A. BLAKELOCK H.S. I t's 2009 and the graduating classes of 2010 are starting to feel the pressure. Less than three months ago, these same kids were beginning to enjoy their G2s and the perks of freedom. Now it's hello stress. "Your stress level goes through the roof, everything counts now. "The teachers pretty much tell you how it is. No BS," said a Grade 12 student at Thomas A. Blakelock High School. Many other students would agree. Stress doesn't only occur because of school. At home, the pressure is just as tough. Teachers have you working, while your parents have you sweating. Teens today just can't seem to catch a break. "You are always having to be the next big thing and that's not what I want," says an honour roll student. Universities today are highly competitive and no matter what your dreams are, they can be taken away from you. Between clubs, sports, volunteer hours and maintaining an average that can even be considered (good enough) for universities or colleges, it doesn't seem possible. After all this pressure, you still might think we have it relatively easy. We don't. The hallways in high school have no boundaries. You have to "Keep up with the Joneses" if you want to fit in. That means the latest clothes and shoes and who is dating who. I'm not talking about the classic bullying. These are just some views to consider about the day-to-day challenges a teen of today faces. There's nothing that can realistically take away from stress, but there are things that can make these seniors have an amazing last run. When asked, "What can make your final year great?" a group of boys replied, "Start the day off later!" But in all seriousness, 90 per cent of the students think one day a week with less homework would give them a chance to relax and just be a kid. "You have to know what you want to go into at school. Starting now. No pressure!" a Grade 11 told me. She looked scared and mad all at once. Sad because she hasn't yet figured out what she wants to go into. And mad because her friends have. I asked another Grade 11 student, "Are you thinking about going to college or university?" He shrugged and said, "If I had the money, maybe." He smiled and walked away, head down. That's another factor to consider: money to finance your education. Something that feels like it should be a basic human right but sadly isn't. Two different students and two different kinds of stress, still all the same. We are still kids and, every now and then, we still want to feel like kids. For anyone under Grade 12 please don't read this and feel overwhelmed. Twelfth grade so far has been an amazing journey ­­ stressful, but amazing. If you remember to keep yourself in check by prioritizing and organizing your time, your final year will be the best year. Remember to enjoy the little things. And trust me, there are a lot of little things. PUBLIC NOTICE - HEARING AIDS The latest development in hearing aid technology, the Neuro - compensator hearing aid, developed in part at McMaster University, is now available at HEAR RIGHT CANADA 2457 Mount Forest Drive (at Guelph Line) Burlington 905-335-5252 hearrightcanada.ca Customer Appreciation Day Sun, Oct 18 (Sat, Oct 17 @ Clearview) Chris McKhool Mon, Oct 19 10 -11am Oakville Centre for the Performing Arts Tickets: FREE First Concert with Cartoon Workshop for Teens with Sat, Oct 24 Central Branch Tickets: FREE Kevin Sylvester 1- 4 pm An Evening with Mon, Oct 19 7- 9 pm Oakville Centre for the Performing Arts Tickets: $5 us for FREE Starbucks coffee, juice and cookies at all branches. We will also be offering a $10 fine amnesty on returned items. Join T D OU S OL www.opl.on.ca Oakville Public Library Week Oct 18-24, 2009