How to Manage Senior Year Stress!

As you take a sigh of relief and enter your year of lasts, you may feel overwhelmed with college applications and schoolwork, but during those stressful times it is important to put things into perspective and take time to relax! Senior year comes with a plethora of ever-lasting memories from Senior Prom to Graduation, and it is important to be in the moment and take time to enjoy these events! Personally, coming from an Asian family, I understand the pressures many of us face about academics. Many parents heavily pressure their children to go down certain career paths that their child may or may not like. The bottled up pressure causes anxiety in lots of children, and can lead to serious mental health issues as well as rocky relationships. This stress, however, can also be released through healthy and positive activities; some activities one can do are running, any physical activity or sport, hanging out with friends, finding a new hobby, or simply taking time for yourself and relaxing while doing whatever makes you happy.For me, when I am facing an overwhelming amount of stress I resort to getting boba with my friends, playing soccer, or even spending time with my family.  Spending time with my friends has been a way for me to destress and center myself as well as allow me to be happier and in the present! I think that it is really important to take days for self care and do activities that you enjoy, for only then can your body and mental health be at its best. Bottling up stress and anger is not good for yourself, or others around you. So, when times get tough, remember to take time for yourself as well as stay healthy and positive or reach out to someone you trust to talk!