[dropcap]A[/dropcap]s the end of the school year approaches, many students are feeling the pressure of multiple spring activities. Sporting events, end-of-the-year concerts, the beginning of summer jobs, and family get-togethers are just a few of the worries that plague students during the months of April and May. Add finals to that list, and many begin to feel overwhelmed as they try to find balance between their grades and other commitments.
The stress that high-schoolers feel from final exams is certainly not uncommon, and often affects their physical and mental health during this time of year. This stress, however, portrays itself in many different ways, and the amount of stress one feels as well as the way that they respond to it varies greatly among students. According to a 2013 study by USA Today, the most common outcome from this stress is irritability, with around 40 percent of US teens saying they feel angry or are annoyed more easily when they are stressed. The same article also lists fatigue, headaches, depression, and varying sleeping habits as common problems among stressed teens, and points out that every student will behave differently to deal with added stress.
While this stress varies among teens, however, so do the ways in which people deal with the added pressure. When asked how they cope with added stress during the final weeks of school from exams and other commitments, many students responded:
By Nicole Schroeder
