Brianna+C’s+Final+AmEx+Speech+2016



.............................................................................. **A World with Less Stress **

I sat down with my laptop at least 3 different times just this weekend, trying to be inspired to pick a topic and then proceed to write this speech. I had no clue what I would talk about, but each time I failed to think of something, I knew it was closer and closer to the deadline. I was starting to get on edge a little bit, a little bit stressed out. Once I realized I was getting stressed out about this, I thought to myself, ‘Woah! Why are you letting yourself get stressed about this? This was supposed to be easy compared to all the ‘heavy lifting’ we’ve already done in preparation for the AP exams. Besides, there’s only 3 more days of school left for you.’ So then I was thinking, and I said to myself, “I wish I was less stressed.” And then I thought about what I had said and I had an epiphany! You know, one of those “lightbulb” moments just like in Despicable Me. I wished that I was less stressed! I remembered reading about some statistic that said students nowadays are more stressed than our parents were when they were in high school. There’s even the 21 Pilots song // Stressed Out // that everyone seems to know. I had finally found my topic for this speech, a new world that I want to live in.

A world with less stress. What would that even look like? It’s kind of hard to imagine given all the things I sign up for each year. This year, my schedule consisted of waking up around 5:15ish to get to 0 period Company Show Choir which started at 6:15am every day (except Wednesday). Then I come to Foothill to be lectured in my six other classes. What did you sign up for this year? Well obviously we all decided for one reason or another to take both APUSH and AP English. Then I know most of us are taking Honors Physiology while others took Physics or even AP Physics (all difficult classes), quite a number also took AP Spanish 4, add in whichever math you’re taking; let’s be real math is hard whether it’s Honors or CP. Plenty of us have weekly commitments to community service projects, hours consumed by sports, and then the time you have to spend with your family. Pile on the rigorous coursework that these commitments always get in the way of and you are left with little time for peace and quiet, or even sleep. By the way, it is recommended for teenagers like us to be getting at least 8-9 hours of sleep every night. Ha! I laugh. Because I know that I get an average of 5-6 hours of sleep on a good day, and usually never more than 7, and I’m certain that that’s around how much sleep most of you are getting.

The AP student strives to produce his/her best work all of the time (okay //most//), but with such a busy schedule and only 24 hours in a day, this can be very difficult. What does this constant busy schedule and heavy homework load lead to? Lack of sleep, which then leads to fatigue and irritability, even depression, and the list goes on. All of these symptoms combined leads to one simple explanation. You are stressed. According to WebMD, another symptom of being stressed is procrastination, something that we’ve all mastered this year. And usually, this procrastination due to a far out due date causes last minute stress about the fast approaching deadline (English Research Paper!!). Now, don’t get me wrong, stress is not all bad. In fact, I know that when I’m stressed out about a deadline I tend to work faster and produce better work than if I were to leisurely accomplish any given assignment. However, the rising levels of stress among teenagers is cause for concern.

According to the Atlantic, a study done earlier last year revealed that 49% of high school students are chronically stressed. That’s almost half of us! Other research cited by the New York Daily News indicates that people, especially young people, are 30% more stressed than they were 30 years ago. What causes you the most stress? Is it your siblings or parents fighting, homework, a lack of time due to hours that you spend at your job (if you have one), relationship troubles? All of these things can cause stress, and a buildup of stress can lead to a number of various other mental or physical side effects that may be harmful to you.

Symptoms of chronic stress include anxiety, low energy, and sleep problems in the short term. When a person is stressed out, their nervous ticks become more noticeable. They might start to bite their nails, or just in general seem high strung or on edge. Feeling stressed out can cause you to feel overwhelmed by your situation and seemingly endless “to-do” list, which can just send you down the rabbit hole and eventually lead to depression. Other more serious long term side effects include a weakened immune system – ever wonder why everyone seems to get sick around finals and AP exams? I got sick this year during AP exams, and it was miserable! I was definitely stressed. Long term stress can also cause gastrointestinal problems, obesity or eating disorders, heart disease, and high blood pressure. By show of hands, how many of you have ever skipped a meal because you were stressed on time?

Now that you know what high levels of stress could do, I hope you’re realizing just how important it is to manage your stress levels. What are some ways that you relieve stress? When I’m stressed I like to practice playing and singing songs on the piano, or just listening to songs on my phone. I also love taking a break for some physical activity, whether that be a walk or a crossfit class. Some good techniques to manage stress include the following:
 * Working out – which could be as simple as a walk around the block, going on a run, or taking a yoga or meditation class.
 * Listening to or playing music – always a good one.
 * Playing with your pets. If you have dogs, throw a ball. Cats? Maybe just a good cuddle.
 * Take deep breaths
 * Talk to someone about it
 * Keep a stress diary
 * Learn to say “no” when you have too much on your plate already – this is the hardest one for me. I love to be involved and never want to miss out on anything so I’ve found it really difficult to have to turn things down, even if it is for my own health and sanity
 * Rest if you are sick
 * Try to get more sleep! I know. This one seems impossible given the expectations of our performance and various commitments. I mean really, who has time to sleep?

I know that having a stress-free life is unrealistic, and frankly it’s unattractive. A healthy amount of stress is necessary in order to motivate us, but given the increased levels of stress among teenagers, it’s clear that we haven’t quite mastered that balance. I want to live in a world where people are less stressed, a world where people can slow down and enjoy life more, enjoy their friends and family more. My wish for the future is that people will be able to recognize the main causes of stress in their lives so that once those factors are identified, we can find ways to actively and conscientiously reduce stress levels.

 Go home today and enjoy the sunshine! Take a walk and smell the roses, or the smell of the ocean, it // is // Ventura after all. Try a yoga class, or maybe some meditation. Do something creative! Learn a new song on piano or guitar. Take time to enjoy your friends and family! Laugh more, smile more! I want to live in a world where everyone can be the BEST version of themselves by not letting stress get in the way.

Moninger, Jeannette. "How to Reduce Stress: 10 Relaxation Techniques To Reduce Stress on the Spot." //WebMD//. WebMD, 14 Sept. 2015. Web. 30 May 2016. Neal, Meghan. "Stress Levels Soar in America by 30% in 30 Years." //NY Daily News//. 16 June 2012. Web. 30 May 2016. Ossola, Alexandra. "High-Stress High School" //The Atlantic//. Atlantic Media Company, 9 Oct. 2015. Web. 30 May 2016. "Stress Symptoms: Effects of Stress on the Body." //WebMD//. Ed. Varnada Karriem-Norwood. WebMD, 13 July 2015. Web. 30 May 2016. Unknown. "Dealing with Stress | Ten Tips." //Skills You Need//. Web. 31 May 2016.
 * Sources **