As this summer comes to an end, my nerves about starting school set in, but this time more than usual. I can’t quite tell if it’s because I am going to be a senior, college applications or just not wanting to go back to early mornings and study sessions, but it’s most likely all of the above.
Today, there is so much pressure to perform well in school. It feels like if you don’t receive an A+ or 100% on a test then you failed. I often see the mindset around my school and, sometimes, I am guilty of it, too. When I start to think like this I try to remember that anything besides an A is not failing as long as I tried my best. As corny as this sounds, this actually helps because I know that nobody is perfect and nobody is expected to be, even though it may feel like it sometimes.
I am also the type of person who tends to get really nervous about starting a new school year and I don’t always know how to deal with those feelings. Sometimes I don’t express how I feel and try to suppress my emotions, hoping they will go away, which, usually, brings my thoughts about school to the forefront of my mind.
The best thing for me is opening up to a friend about how I am feeling because they are probably feeling the same way. It sounds weird, but the more I talk about how anxious I am to start school with a friend, the better I feel about it! Somehow, it makes me feel better knowing I am not the only person experiencing these emotions.
As the start of school gets closer, I am trying to adopt a positive mindset because I know nothing is ever as bad as I think it is going to be. One activity I did recently to help generate positive thinking is redecorating the bulletin board in my room with inspirational quotes and fun photos of my friends and I.
I took all the photos throughout the summer using a disposable camera and thought it was such a fun way to capture memories. The best part of this activity was getting the photos developed and setting up the board with my friends. It almost felt like a bonding activity as we talked about the end of summer and our stress going into senior year, even though we are already as close as can be!
Stress can be an overpowering emotion and reading inspirational quotes and looking back at pictures with friends can seem like a waste of time, but it’s not. Sometimes all you need is to read something empowering or think back on a happy memory to help settle your feelings. And now when I wake up for school every morning I am reminded of the amazing support system around me and I get inspiration to start the day.
If you are looking for a fun way to end your summer and vent to your friends about the pressure and nerves regarding school, then I highly recommend this activity!
