With the ACT in progress and LEAP and AP testing on the way, most students are beginning to feel the stress that accompanies the last few months of the school year. The pressure to keep up grades and simultaneously study for upcoming exams can be exhausting. To combat the stress, fatigue, and anxiety that students are feeling right now, Athletic Director Julie Fink organized a Wellness Week dedicated to helping students learn how to feel and perform well in and out of school. Throughout the week, information on how to remain calm during a test, how to deal with anxiety, and how to identify stress disorders was explained over the morning announcements.
Maintaining mental wellness is extremely important, especially for students. The demand for good grades and consistency is no joke. Mental wellness can be an issue for those who put immense pressure on themselves and overwork themselves into exhaustion. Student athletes often tend to suffer mentally at school because they must maintain high grades through meets and games. Fink expressed the importance of finding a balance in life – an in-between ground where work gets done without any unhealthy feeling of anxiety.
“Mental wellness [is] an issue, and it’s something that’s really important, and you’ve got to find balance in your life,” Fink said.
Personally, Fink likes to maintain her own mental wellness through reading and running. Being able to take a good run outside or indoors can clear and relax the mind, and reading is a good brain break from reality! These hobbies can help manage stress and anxiety.
“Exercise is a huge part to my own mental wellness, so I do run. It’s a great way for me to manage my stress and anxiety,” Fink said, “And I like to read, so that’s how I try to relax on a daily basis.”
The immediate goal of Wellness Week is to inform students that they’re not alone even if they feel isolated, anxious, or depressed. Fink wants students to know that there are people inside and outside of school who care deeply about them and their mental health.
“I want our students to know that… their teachers, coaches, and administrators care so much about them, and we want them to be successful at Zachary High School,” Fink said.
An easy way to promote wellness is to reflect on your feelings – whether that’s through journaling or talking to a professional. Fink encourages students to admit their feelings because it can help them process the emotions they’re feeling.
“Journaling is a good thing – writing down your feelings… not leaving it bottled up inside of you and just getting all these thoughts out in the open,” Fink said, “A licensed professional therapist is a great person to have in your life. We have people here and our school counselors.”
Fink plans to expand on Wellness Week in the near future. From more public service announcements to raising money for suicide prevention organizations, Fink says this is only the beginning of a journey to promote mental wellness at Zachary High.
“We are just opening a door… we definitely want to grow it in the future,” Fink said.
Fink’s efforts are sure to leave a lasting impact on students, helping to spread awareness about mental health and promote a healthier, less stressful environment at Zachary High.
