High School Teen’s Talk on Balance, Prioritizing and What’s Really Important in their Lives

Q.  Since the start of school, things are overwhelming.  How do you balance everything?

A.  I’m able to balance everything by staying organized and keeping to a schedule.  I also remind myself it’s important to be relaxed.

A.  I take time away from all of it, and make time to relax.  I ask myself if I can cut down or postpone anything, and then let people know I need help.

A. It’s always hard to balance everything that comes with the school year; homework, studying, sports, friends, extracurriculars’…  I have to really cut back on my “free time” that was always available in the summer and focus on what’s most important for me both now and in the future.

Q.  So what do you do to organize and prioritize?

A.  I keep a planner.  And, I keep things updated on my phone as well.

A.  Write everything down.  And set aside time for each event.

A.  I make a schedule for myself, based on what is most important to me.  By sticking to a schedule, I can easily accomplish all of my tasks and manage my time better.

Q.  There’s so much that seems important.  What’s most important to you in your life?

A.  I think the most important thing to me is being aware of my future and trying to take that into consideration in my choices every day.

A.  The people in my life – without them I wouldn’t have motivation or drive to succeed.

A.  I think that my family and my future are the most important to me.

Q.  What’s your influence to be drug-free?

A.  My influence to be drug-free is reminding myself that the consequences of today, could affect my tomorrow.

A.  My future.  Nothing I do should be sacrificed at the expense of my health or well-being.

A.  I like to think about my future…. 10 years from now, I will be proud to be drug-free.

Teen Stress, Anxiety and Depression

Here’s an interesting Q & A with some Birmingham and Bloomfield Hills high school students, and how they deal with stress, anxiety and pressure…..

Q.  How do you handle stress and anxiety when you start to feel overwhelmed with life?

A.  I take a minute and step away from everything.  If I’m stressed with school, I take a break from studying and plan out a schedule to keep me on track.  Writing it out – things I need to get done and putting it with a time schedule, really helps.    Organizing my life in this way helps me to stay in control and not feel so overwhelmed.    Also, I vent with my friends and get everything off my chest – to people who care about me – really helps.

A.  With life pressure, it’s harder to get away.  So I take time and think about it and write about it.  Writing is an outlet for whatever is on my mind.  You can always look back and read it and find a lot of answers in your own words.

A.  When the pressure of life is really pounding on me, I typically stop what I’m doing, take a deep breath, drink a glass of water and go for a walk to clear my mind.  Sometimes the best thing you can do is give your mind a rest.  If you’re still stressed, then I recommend that you have some tea, put on your pajamas and go to bed early.  It’s hard to think with a clear head when you’re running low on energy.

Q.  Have you ever felt depressed?  Who did you talk to and how did you handle it?

A.  Absolutely.  I think everyone hits a breaking point at least once in their life.  It’s hard to get out because you feel like you’re good for nothing.  Surprisingly, the best help I had didn’t come from any friends, it came from my parents.  They helped me focus on things that brought my energy level up and took my stress away.

A.  When I get sad, I let people close to me know... and they are all I need sometimes.

Q.  What would you tell a teen who is depressed and feeling the pressure of life, and is either using, or considering using drugs or alcohol as a way to cope?

A.  I would say that as much as it might seem to be helping…. drinking and drug use are actually going to hurt your more.  Alcohol is a depressant, many drugs are.  You need to find a lasting release from stress and depression and face the problems instead of seeing a temporary escape with drugs and alcohol.

A.  I would tell them the facts.  Drug and alcohol use is counter-productive and can actually lead to depression.   I would also hare my way of coping – focusing on self-improvement, start exercising more, be productive and look for  ways to make another person’s day better.

Teen Myths and Busters on Alchol and Drugs

Here’s what high school students think are the biggest myths about alcohol and marijuana use today…  and what they have to say to bust those myths.

The biggest myth is that “everyone” is does it at some point.  In reality, a very small percentage of teens use alcohol.  While it may seem like a social norm, it is not needed to have fun, to be accepted or make friends.  You will make a lot more friends by just being yourself.

A lot of teens think that only 1 drink is okay and that nothing will happen.  But, usually they just keep drinking, and make stupid choices – like driving or getting in a car with someone else who has been drinking.   All it takes is one drink to cause a lot of turmoil.

Teens don’t understand why they should wait.  They think “I’ll just drink in a few years… so why wait?”    There are many problems that come from drinking at a young age;  gateway to drinking more, can lead to other harder drug use, and the teenage brain is developing in critical areas until early 20’s.  There's the high possibility of addiction, and continued poor and risky decisions that come from alcohol and drug use in the teen years.

 

 

 

Teens think that they HAVE to drink at a party to have fun or be cool.    You may THINK you look cool…. but you actually just look ridiculous, especially when you posted those pictures!

Teens think, marijuana is just an herb that grows naturally…. they don’t see anything wrong with marijuana, but they really don’t know what goes into it and its harmful effects.  THC and all the 100's of chemicals that are actually processed into it.    Being high doesn’t make you look cool, just dumb, messed up, and irresponsible.  If you want to be cool, then just be yourself.

 

 

Stressed about Finals? Check out these helpful YAB Study Tips!

Are you stressed with school and GPA?  Finals?  Are you mid-way to the end of the semester?  Or, just starting a new semester?  It's not easy to balance it all, but here's what some of our YAB students are doing to get through it....

10 Tips to Beat the Study Heat from the YAB:

 

1.) Be Proactive- Start studying a couple weeks before your final. Late night cramming will not make you do better the next morning.  Plan to study gradually so you can understand the material.

2.) Find a Study Spot- Select a quiet location without a lot of distractions (i.e. cell phones, televisions, video games, computers, etc.) and a good source of light to study for your finals. It is amazing to see the difference a proper studying location can make on how you perform on your finals. If it helps, and ONLY if it helps, study with friends. They are a good source to test your knowledge and bounce around confusing ideas to clarify in terms us students can understand easier.

REMEMBER: Studying is very individual. There is no one technique or tip that works best for everyone. Some people go over many problems over and over again, while some can just glance at their notes. Most of us are somewhere in between.

3.) Know the format of the final.  Multiple choice, essays, and short-answer questions are the go-to's for finals. Know before and you can use typical test taking tips for the format which makes what you are studying for that much easier! Teachers normally drop hints in class about what will be on the final. Pay attention in class to the way your teacher words concepts or ideas; they may come in handy on your exam. Also, more recent material will most likely appear more often on the test, but study everything nonetheless.

4.) Do the study guide(if any) assigned by teacher. They offer similar questions to the test and are a summarized source of all the information you need to know. Make sure you correctit too.

5.) Try mnemonic devices to help remember things. For example: I remember the protein functions as TED SMH (transport, enzyme, defensive, structural, mobility, hormone).

6.) Studying should always be geared to the subject:

• For math, know your equations, formulas, and necessary uses of your calculator (if you get one).
• For science, whether it be chemistry, physics, or biology, concepts are most important. Vocab is also a large part of understanding.
• For foreign language, formation and sentence structure are an important focus. Vocabulary is also important, but more often than not you will always encounter words you wont know.
• For history, dates and people are generally the most important.

7.) Take Active Breaks– It is hard to study continuously for hours on end, so take breaks as you need them, but instead of sitting down and watching television or sleeping during these breaks, keep your blood pumping to help you stay awake and focused when you return to your studying.

8.) Go to Bed Early- On the night before your final or test, do not stay up late cramming information, instead go to bed early. It is harder to recall information with a tired brain; therefore, a good night of sleep can boost your final grade. And, eat a good breakfast before any final or test.... you NEED to focus and concentrate!

9.) Remember to Breathe - If you begin feeling stressed or overwhelmed during your finals preparation, take a step back from your studying and BREATHE.  It is much harder to study and retain information with a cluttered mind.  Put on some calming music and take deep breaths. Take the time to make sure that you are fully relaxed before you get back to your studying.

10.) Remember to study safe and study smart. Good luck on your finals, we know you will do great!

Merry and Happy Holidays!  Here's what some of our YAB students are up to this Holiday Season.....

What are your favorite ways to celebrate the Holidays and how do you keep it fun and substance-free?

My favorite way to celebrate the Holidays is by spending time with my favorite people doing things we enjoy;  watching movies, eating really good food, and playing guitar.  Teens can have fun and be substance-free by making plans in advance to make sure it stays that way.
 
I like to bake Holiday cookies and go bowling on New Years Eve!

My favorite thing to do during the holidays is spend time with my family. There are tons of things for teens to do to and stay out of trouble.   Like having a New Year's Eve party with a theme.   Wii games and food and a tv to watch the ball drop.
 
Remember what you stand for.  It is the end of the year..... don't remember it as a mistake, focus on your family, your values and your friends.

Spending time with my family and friends.... it's great to take some time out of our busy lives and appreciate what we have.

From the Youth Action Board to you, we wish you a very Happy Holiday and all the best for a safe and Happy New Year! 

 

 

 

High School Students answer some more tough questions about the transition to high school

How do you balance everything in high school?

Breath….. The main trick to balancing everything with life is to stay calm.   The same thing goes if you're in a crisis.   If you panic, your body goes into fight or flight mode sending extra adrenaline into your blood system.  This may send a rush of endorphins and adrenaline at first, but if you are under this constant stress it can cause many short term and long term effects to your body.  Similar to if you choose to do drugs or alcohol.   If you stay calm and tell yourself you can do it ... then you can and you will.   But you also have to remember it is okay to say “No”…  if someone asks you to do something and you are booked.

Homework and grades should always come first.  If you're struggling in school you should focus on that.  Exercise is a very important thing.  It’s a great stress reliever and sends good endorphins and adrenaline through your body to help pump fresh blood into your brain and to give you a new look on a sticky situation.  If you're stuck or struggling with homework, take a break and go on a little run or walk.  

As far as family is concerned, you may feel that your parents are "babying" you, but they do know what is best for you and want to keep you safe.  Same as any other animal in the animal kingdom J. Communication and honesty is the key to any relationship.   And trust me, parents will take better if you communicate with them maturely, as opposed to rebelling, yelling, and losing your control.

What really happens at summer parties?

You will probably hear a lot of people refer to going to summer parties, pool/beach parties, and graduation parties.  Many think that they all include drinking and hundreds of people, but that is not the case at all.   Most of these parties are only about 5-15 people sitting around hanging out as friends, enjoying the beautiful weather drinking lemonade.  No alcohol what-so-ever.  However, there are the select few who do decide to partake in the stereotypical “partying” activities…. and these are the people who are talked about the most because they are somehow exciting to the rest of the world.  All in all MOST do not drink, and if people are drinking, know that you DO NOT have to.  I would recommend leaving to avoid pressures, but if you feel that that may insult your friends then politely say no. If they are true friends, they will respect your decision to #livedrugfree. Ultimately, you are the makers of your choices and no one can tell you what to do or how to live.

An 8th grade student heading to high school wants to know.... 

Have you ever felt pressured to drink or use drugs?  What did you do if someone offered you something?

I have felt pressured to use drugs or alcohol, There were times such as dances, or other get togethers where people were drinking and I was one of the lone wolves, but I took a step back and really examined the whole situation. I asked myself "What are these kids actually getting from drinking? Answer, a hang over and looking stupid!"  Then I asked,  "What could happen if I started to partake in these activities?  Answer:  major trouble with my parents, the law, and colleges!"

It's so important to take a step back and really examine a situation before you dive head first into the deep end, and make an impulsive decision.  The negative consequences most definitely always outweigh the good when it comes to the consumption of alcohol while you are underage.

If you are ever offered something an don't want it, or feel that there is a high amount of pressure you can do three things:

1. Say "No."   Most people will leave you alone after you say no once. 
2. Leave the situation.  If you feel uncomfortable this is the best option.   
3. And.....  look within yourself and decide who you really are..... and who you want to be.          It helps to stand strong because as the saying goes:  "Good timber does not grow with ease.  The stronger the winds, the stronger the trees."