When Stress Got In the Way
Even my runs have been stressful lately. I wake up at 5:20 a.m. on most mornings to run between three and five miles. I run with music in my ears--usually a little Michael Jackson to get me started (my English 11 students recently learned of my affinity for Michael Jackson's music, as I grew up listening to him and The Beatles). I value this time; it’s the only time I really spend by myself thinking during the day. Yet, lately anxiety has taken over my runs. Recently, I have had a hard time escaping stress. Articles about it started showing up in my Twitter and Facebook feeds. Other people started talking to me about how they were stressed. And I can see it on the faces of you, my students. Some of the stress masks itself better than others, but I’ve noticed many of you are stressed, and I want to tell you I am, too. Or at least I was.
I usually am not bothered by the stresses of my job. Yes, it can be challenging, but I have always had an easy time finding a balance between stress and life. Somehow my papers always get graded, my lessons planned and the problems teenagers face I can usually help them solve. This past October, though, I found myself unable to overcome the stresses around me. I had 43 letters of recommendation to write for seniors. I have three preps--one of them brand new. I was asked to serve on three different committees for Hanover County Public Schools. A few dozen seniors asked me to proofread their college essays. I was in charge of the Fall Festival at Pearson’s Corner Elementary School. I even found stress in attempting to transport my children to the different places they needed to go. Life seemed to gradually be pulling me down with it, suffocating my usually spirited self.
My initial thought when I experienced stress firsthand was to give up, to just not give 100 percent that I usually do to everything. But something inside me wouldn’t let that happen. I’ve wanted to be a teacher since I was playing school in my basement at the age of seven. I was not going to go down without a fight.
So, I ran--miles and miles just to clear my head. Some days were still stressful; others helped me put things in perspective. I started talking to my friends and colleagues. If we hold in the stresses of our lives and don’t communicate how we feel, those feelings bottle up inside. I leaned on one particular friend and colleague who tried to put things in perspective for me on a daily basis. For that, I am truly grateful. I took time for myself. I made lots of to-do lists and consciously carved out time to get the tasks done. I stopped procrastinating for the one reason that I felt like it was preventing me from living my life to its fullest.
So why am I telling you about my own personal stress and how I picked myself up? Mainly because I’ve noticed how hard it is to be a teenager in today’s society. You have pressures and expectations, and as IB students even put that pressure on yourself. I’ve noticed many of you towards the end of the quarter stressed about an upcoming quiz, test, or project. I’ve watched your tired eyes, longing for just one more minute of sleep. Stress is not good for our bodies, though. It prevents us from living the kind of lives we need to live. So, I offer this as my challenge to you this month: Stop letting the daily stresses of your lives overcome you. Do the best that you can with what you have. Communicate with your teachers and peers when school does get stressful. Take time for yourself. Prioritize what needs to get done instead of doing it all the night before (I know, that one might be asking for too much!)
One of the greatest moments I experienced this month when I was able to put stress in perspective was the guest lecture from Meghan Lowery, the former employee of SHOFCO, an organization we read about in Find Me Unafraid. Imagine living the life Meghan Lowery did in Africa. I listened to what she ate there and how she had to get around and suddenly my little stresses were simply that--little stresses. What I thought was so monumental wasn’t really so monumental after all.
Because I saw past the stress in my life, I started appreciating your efforts more. So many of you have impressed me with your first formal piece of writing--a persuasive essay. Those of you who I taught as freshmen have grown up so much now that you’re in your junior year. I remember you coming to me not even knowing what literary analysis was. The leaps and bounds you have made between that day and now are tremendous. As a teacher, there’s really no greater reward than to see a student who maybe wasn’t the best writer as a freshman truly improve to become a great writer.
In Theory of Knowledge, you wrote and delivered TED talks that easily could be a part of live TED Ed. I was truly amazed.
Your science discussions in senior TOK left me wanting to explore more scientific topics.
I’ve started appreciating things around me as opposed to getting stressed about them. I can only change my attitude, and that’s what I did. If you’re finding yourself stressed, I encourage you to do the same. For me, somehow, that stress has disappeared. I finished writing 45 of the 46 letters (3 more students have asked since my initial run of 43). I got a handle on the paper grading and planning. I completed a successful Fall Festival and even have managed to figure out ways to get all three of my own children where they need to be without stress accompanying me. Even my runs have changed. I am stronger and better without stress getting the best of me. After all, nothing should get in the way of me, the pavement, and Michael Jackson at 5:20 a.m.---Nothing.
