Exams, pop quizzes, reports, essays, and homework: these are the guilty parties that cause stress in teens. They are responsible for keeping you up at night, for those empty coffee cups cluttering your desk, and the bags under your eyes. And just when you think you finally have a moment of peace, your teacher drops a bombshell. How many of you have heard “3, 2, 1, turn in your test papers now” and how many of us would rather forget that we totally forgot about the sine function because we were trying to memorize half the periodic table in one night?
I’ve been there, you’ve been there, we’ve all been there. Now high school rolls around and there are college applications, SATs, TOEFLs, clubs… how can a teen survive? Well, I managed to gather the most reliable advice with dealing with these due dates. Need a little help?
Read on!
1. Own A Planner
Yes, those books that your counselor is forever nagging you to get. Either the paperback or the electronic one both work wonders. Did your strict English professor drop a report due date? Mark it down. SAT mock test date? Mark it down. And in no time at all, you’ll go from confused to organized.
REAL TEEN SAYS – “I have a planner notebook, including daily, weekly and monthly plans. I always mark the assignment/test’s deadline/date immediately after it is assigned, therefore I will have sufficient time to work on or prepare for it.”
– Nicole S. from Léman Manhattan Preparatory School
Anna R. and Judy H. discuss criteria for their action plan and the dates for their timeline.
2. Make an Action Plan or Timeline
Have a big project coming up but it’s not due for a month, so you let it drag until the night before the due date? Practicing your rushing skills on something that’s worth 50% of your grade is so-not-cool. So, get a pen and paper (or open a Microsoft Word doc) and start planning the milestones. Set dates, descriptions, criteria for your project, and get a little done every day.
REAL TEEN SAYS – “When I am preparing for huge projects, I often make a timeline/action plan before and, so that by the time of deadline, things won’t get pushed and overloaded.”
-Jessica Z. from Beijing City International School (BCIS)
XueFei L. sharing the steps of a mathematical question to the class two days before a math exam.
3. Ban Procrastination
P-R-O-C-R-A-S-T-I-N-A-T-I-O-N? What does that spell? Your worst nightmare, that’s what. Let’s make a slight change: first prioritize your homework/deadlines and then chill. Finish your work right after you get home from school and before you exchange memes with your friends. Then, when it comes to bedtime you can sleep without feeling guilty and you won’t trade your sleep for grades.
REAL TEEN SAYS – “I think the most important step to take first is to make sure that you are balanced by knowing that when you study, you should only focus on that particular task and avoid distractions; but if you’re enjoying life, just go enjoy it and don’t think about any other things!”
-Vivian R. from Beijing City International School (BCIS)
Okay, maybe it isn’t the deadlines that keep you awake at night. You might get good grades in all your classes (and if so, go you!) but when a classmate comes up to you and asks for your grade, do you start sweating bullets? Or are you constantly worried: “If they thinks this test is easy, so should I” or “should I choose art like everyone else or go for drama”? Pressure. It’s a nasty word, and schools are full of it. Peer pressure, pressure of perfection, all kinds. Don’t fret, I’ve got your back:
“Comparison is the death of joy.” – Mark Twain
1. Sweat it Out
Swimming, biking, dancing, running, HIIT, you name it. Choose something that gets your heart pumping and get at it. Not only will it help you relax, but scientific studies state that regular exercise can help build your confidence, improve your mood, as well as lower symptoms of anxiety and depression. All these benefits can ease your stress levels, hence, why not give it a try?
REAL TEEN SAYS – “To destress, I would exercise. It’s a way to express myself and relieve my fretted mind.”
-Nicole S. from Léman Manhattan Preparatory School
2. Focus on Y-O-U
It’s great if you compare your past trig exam with the trig exam you just did but it’s a whole other deal if you compare your grades with your bestie’s. Turn those “Did they get a higher mark” into “how can I get a higher mark.” You’ll see yourself changing and growing in the process and you’ll be one step closer to your goal. After all, you should only be caring about your grades and your grades only.
REAL TEEN SAYS – “I handle those pressures by focusing on and believing in myself, forgetting everyone else and focusing on what I want to do.”
-Moses B. from American School of Doha
Danna T. organizing her due dates into a calendar and checking her email for
additional information.
3. Stay Positive!
Something is worrying you. You overthink, you get anxious, you can’t sleep, and you keep wondering “what if?” But why worry? A 2015 study at the University of Warwick in the UK found that people who are happy are precisely 12% more productive than the average individual. So, stay positive! It benefits both your mood and your grades!
REAL TEEN SAYS – “I try not to overthink or stress by keeping a positive mindset because the mentality is all that matters.”
-Jayden S. from Beijing City International School (BCIS)
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XueFei Liu is currently a 15-year-old student at Beijing City International School. She has a cultural background of being half-northern and half-southern Chinese. Aside from her passion for writing and reading, she likes singing, cooking, acting in plays, and skateboarding with her friends.
Images: Pexels
This article appeared in the jingkids 2021 January issue
