By Hailey Spaeth ’17, Co-Editor-in-Chief
In today’s age of increasing college competitiveness and rigorous courseload, students are stressed— and Country Day’s are no exception. Students take multiple AP classes, participate in an after-school sport, and lead numerous extracurricular activities–all of this alongside students who are doing the same or even more. No wonder students are anxious.
A recent study mentioned in The Atlantic‘s “High Stress High School” found that half of students at private schools are chronically stressed. Educators and schools are looking for a solution to this problem; healthy outlets that allow students to have balance in their day and less anxiety and mental health issues. Junior Madeline Morales and teacher advisor and English Teacher Deborah Floyd believe they are closer to finding a solution for Country Day students.
Maddie started Meditation Club at the beginning of the 2016 school year. She “created it because [she is] an ambitious girl who needed an outlet”, and “wanted to share this too with other people who feel the same way so they can feel more relaxed and happy.” Meditation club meets during club times and gives students a chance to reflect and take a moment for themselves. They meet in the conference room, and take ten or fifteen minutes for each student to meditate how they see fit. Many students have joined the club; some of them have never meditated before in their lives, while some have been practicing for awhile.
According to Ms. Floyd, the club’s aim is to “slow down the pace of our pressure-cooker academic life [at Country Day.]” Although not every student wants to meditate in order to de-stress, the club is ushering students in the right direction by emphasizing self-care and the protection their well-being. In addition, days like Exploration Day as well as Multicultural Morning show that our teachers and administrators recognize that students need a break from Country Day’s rigorous academic environment.
Article: http://www.theatlantic.com/education/archive/2015/10/high-stress-high-school/409735/
