Sometimes, school feels like death. Actually, a lot of the time. The hallways seem to be teeming with zombies weaving from class to class, everyone running on coffee and sleep deprivation. Or if you’re like me and are too weak-willed for coffee, you are running purely on sleep deprivation and fantasies of a free weekend, that in reality is filled with catching up on the work Canvas keeps pestering you to turn in. It’s overdue – I get it!

Sometimes, school rocks. I get excited about projects, or chatting with my friends during a class, or learning Tai Chi in Fit Female. The school has so much to offer us as learners, which is something that shouldn’t be overlooked.

However, stress follows us around everyday, whether it’s a day filled with good vibes and Tai Chi, or a day filled with zombie stares and excess caffeine. While our student body has diverse opinions, one thing unifies us all: We’re stressed out.

The administration knows this. However, they believe that we need to be taught, or given strategies, to cope with this stress, which is where I believe they’ve gone wrong. We do not need to learn to cope with stress. We need less homework.

Currently, New Trier is making many efforts to teach students to manage their stress.

An assessment is being conducted by the All School Wellness Team to identify ways stress management is incorporated into staff instruction. This assessment also serves to learn how the school is already helping students become aware of their stress.

One way this awareness is being built is through… wait for it… library displays. In addition, literature on high school stress will be put out at parent teacher conferences. And of course, there is a library webpage all about stress management. Your stress is already reduced just by hearing about these ideas, right?

On top of this, the students will take a survey in February on stress and anxiety. I can tell you right now what the results of this survey will be: Students are stressed. This is linked to our excess homework. Please, save us.

I can see it now. Sitting in advisory after minimal sleep, your brain struggling to function as you cram for a math test that you have yet to study for. Then, your adviser announces that you must take a survey on stress. Oh, the irony.

The school has good intentions, and I do believe that the administration has the student’s best interests in mind. And of course, we are more than lucky to be challenged every day in school.

Still, this approach is just not right. Rather than attempting to teach us how to manage our stress, action needs to be taken in actually removing some of this stress. With receiving so much work every night, it is not a matter of being poorly trained in stress-management.

Yes, as a generation, we are procrastinators. Yes, we can improve on time management skills. But even my most productive friends still feels the stress of New Trier every single day, overwhelmed like the rest of us.

Seeing a display in the library does not magically erase the poison that is this constant cycle of intense stress. Please, New Trier, don’t call my parents and say you’re “worried about me.” I’m fine. Just stressed.

As different teams throughout our school work to educate us on stress management and coping strategies, they are missing the point. We don’t need to meditate.

We don’t need to take deep breaths. And we don’t need to hear guest speakers on how we can overcome the stress in our lives. We need action. We need less homework.

If there is anyone out there who is reading this and thinks I’m crazy, or who has never felt this cycle of stress that I am referring to, please tell me your secret. But don’t tell me to take deep breaths.