Beating Back-to-School Stress

Guest Opinion

By Soledad Demeuse | Aug. 31, 2024

As September begins and the summer high slowly diminishes, many students find themselves dealing with their share of the inevitable back-to-school anxiety. After months of kids pursuing their interests, making money, and spending their days basking in the sun or relaxing at home, the transition back to school can feel like a huge wave is crashing over our lives.

Whether you’re a parent, a student, or a teacher, this time of the year can be particularly stressful. But with my 12 years of experience as a student in Traverse City schools, I’m here to give those who are feeling the back-to-school blues a few helpful tips and tricks to make this time a little easier for everyone.

Let’s kick things off with the little ones—the elementary schoolers. While many young kids are mostly excited to learn and see their friends, some of them still get the jitters when the first day rolls around. For our kindergarteners and first graders, school can be a little intimidating, especially if they’re only five years old.

So, how can they deal with it? Well, at this age, parents should encourage their children to express and understand their emotions. Although it may seem surprising, exposing children to a little bit of uneasiness can benefit them in the long run because it allows room to build emotional intelligence and resilience. If I could thank my parents for one method they used while raising me, it would be allowing me to navigate my feelings on my own when I was younger. Because of that, I’ve become quite an independent thinker and can find the methods that work best for me to soothe my anxiety.

But of course, it only gets harder from there. While elementary schoolers are new to that anxious feeling, middle schoolers feel it much more intensely.

Middle school may be one of the most challenging parts of adolescence. Puberty is raging like a fiery beast that will attack a person’s frame of mind. Returning to school can feel like walking into a room full of people while naked for many middle schoolers, all thanks to their newly sweaty armpits, acne breakouts, and confusing thoughts.

While many middle schoolers may not feel strong academic pressures toward the beginning of the year, many will certainly start feeling societal pressures. The desire to fit in can be brutal, but there are people for everyone.

I cannot stress enough how important it is to get involved in extracurriculars that interest you in middle school. Parents, encouraging your middle schoolers to take electives that they enjoy is one of the best things you can do for them. If they start the year off strong by partaking in things they love, it’ll be so much easier to make friends and they will feel less out of place. Additionally, they’ll feel like school is less of a chore if the activities they are doing in school are pleasurable.

Even outside of school, it’s important to have an outlet when you are feeling stressed. Many people find that they are much happier by doing things like working out, biking, journaling, arts and crafts, or any other activities that take their minds off of school or other responsibilities. According to a study conducted by Stellenbosch University in South Africa, intentional activities can contribute up to 40 percent of a person’s happiness levels. Thus, finding hobbies outside of school can help relieve some of those anxious and depressing feelings throughout the year.

This advice not only stands for middle schoolers, but high schoolers as well. As a high schooler myself, I know most of us are slammed with all kinds of summer assignments, tight deadlines, and pressures to fit in.

Aside from participating in different types of extracurricular activities, I’ve found that making a list of everything I need to do can be extremely helpful. While that’s probably one of the last things a high schooler wants to hear, seeing everything written down on paper makes me feel less overwhelmed. Plus, it is super satisfying to cross off the things you get done.

Parents also feel tension around the beginning of the school season. It can be difficult to balance work and adjust to the upcoming changes. However, I always found peace when my mother would point out the fun aspects of school and explain that everyone is feeling the same way.

When getting ready to go back to school, it’s also important to establish a healthy sleep schedule, try to meet all your nutritional needs, and do your best to stay organized. It’s easier said than done, but the stress will never go away if you don’t put a little effort into boosting your emotional well-being. With some preparation and an open mindset, both parents and students can navigate the back-to-school season with ease.

Soledad is a current student at Traverse City West Senior High. She loves to write and is working on exploring her career options as she gears up for college.