By Kristina Rice
Opinions Reporter
Students feel overwhelmed at CMHS, as they are balancing sports, academics, jobs, and relationships with friends and family, as well as mental health. Many students seem to not get enough free time to balance many things day-to-day, and they get overwhelmed trying to be a normal teenager while managing so much.
Graphic courtesy of npr.org
“I’ve definitely experienced depression and anxiety balancing too much. I put too much pressure on myself, so I don't feel good enough to do this. Or not motivated enough to do things,” Leila Anderson said.
Students said they feel anxiety or even depression from school and apply too much pressure on themselves.
“I sleep all the time. I sleep when I come straight home from school, whether I have homework or not,” Elijah Clemans said.
“I think I get enough free time, but I most likely don't because, during school, I'm tired. I need and feel I can improve my sleep hours,” Christina Hicks chimed in.
Students highlight the need for better time management, self-care, and stress relief.
While some students also say they do take self-care and personal growth days to focus on and better themselves.
“The way I manage stress is by taking a mental health day or after-school pampering myself,” Deja Cooke said.
Students say keeping close communication and talking about things that go on in our lives is key for keeping good relationships with friends and family.
“I feel like if you tell your opinions and what's been going on in your life, that's [what is] maintaining your relationships with friends and family,” Clemans said.
Some students say they don’t feel pressured to be perfect but differently on the topic.
“I don't feel pressured to be perfect because nobody is ever really perfect, and if they say they are, they’re lying,” Cooke said.
Cooke said nobody is perfect,, even if they claim they are, and Anderson agrees with Cooke’s statement in the same regard.
“I used to feel pressured to be perfect, but not anymore because I realized that everybody is different and the word ‘perfect’; that doesn't really exist, and I wouldn't say in this environment because everybody has their own definition of perfection, and that may or may not reach up to everyone’s ‘perfect’ and standards or my definition of perfect,” Anderson said.
Students both relate that not everyone can be perfect because nobody's perfect is everyone’s definition.
Most students have said social media helps them cope with anxiety or just being on their phones, sleeping, or just not thinking about it.
“Coping mechanisms that work best for me is honestly just not thinking about it too much, trying to distract myself from it, and focusing on things that make me happier,” Anderson said.
Hicks added that she focuses on things that make her happy, and Cooke said she tries not to think about it, calms herself down, and gets as much work out of the way as possible.
By focusing on happy times and moments, stepping back from overwhelming thoughts, and finding ways to manage their emotions and prioritize their well-being.
“Not getting enough sleep for school can definitely affect you by obviously being tired during class, not being motivated during class to your work, it just puts a tiring negative ‘ I don't feel like doing this ‘ kind of mindset and not a ‘ get it done ‘ kind of mindset,” Anderson said.
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