By Molly Merson
Staff Writer Tapping pencils and feet, questions gone unanswered, sweaty foreheads, and nervous glances. Test taking anxiety afflicts many of us daily. It is a dangerous enemy of any high school student, turning even the simplest of exams into an intense scene straight from teens’ worst nightmares. As students embark on their high school career, stress is a major aspect. Things such as class work, extra curricular activities, and exams are major causes of stress in high school. Tests are typically weighted more in point value compared to other assignments. Some students struggle with test taking anxieties that can possibly impact their scores. “I do believe it [test taking anxiety] is common in high school,” Red Lion Area Senior High School’s psychologist Mrs. Persing said. “But I don’t think many students reach out for help when dealing with it.” Students with test taking anxieties have shown to perform at an average of 12 points lower than a student without test taking anxiety. Grades can drop as much as half a letter grade or more because of severe test taking anxiety, resulting in students performing much lower than their potential because of this fear of tests. There is not a specific subject of need among all students. “It depends on the student’s strengths and weaknesses,” Mrs. Persing said. There are no current reports of test taking anxiety in the school. However, it’s very common in high school. Approximately 16-20% of students have a form of extreme test taking anxiety. In addition, an average of 18% of students struggle with a moderately-high test taking anxiety. Some students suffer from this anxiety without even realizing it. In order to conquer test taking anxiety, help is needed. Whether it’s from outside help or within oneself, test taking anxiety can be defeated somehow.
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By Raven Rodriguez Staff Writer Social media heavily affects teens and their body image. The awareness one has of their body image can come as a result of the things they group with. “It starts with exposure at a young age and people that they look up to,” former health teacher Mrs. Sam Smith said. If the person that someone looks up to is a certain body weight or type, they may try to mimic them and achieve a similar physique, even if it’s not necessarily healthy. Comments that are repeatedly said over and over while growing up can also have an impact. It can also have things to do with like what you see when you Are younger, from barbie dolls for girls and figurines for boys. and even more the disney princesses. Body image can be linked to seeking attention. Body image issues don’t only affect girls, they affect guys just as much. It can be in ways as simple as taking vitamin supplements (and not being in a sport) to having a better looking body. If one grows up with parents that are very health conscious, it is very possible that they will grow up to be health conscious as well. It can either have a good impact or the complete opposite. Social media tries to portray models as being healthy even if their appearance is not realistic for the average teenager or healthy. “They think that if they see it on social media it’s okay, but anyone can put anything on social media. Not everything that is on social media has a reliable source and people don’t seem to notice that,” said Mrs. Smith. With this day and age, people post things all over social media for attention/approval. It impacts their self image. Almost everyone goes on social media, it’s a place of comfort for some people. Having body image issues can lead to low self esteem but its not only body image that leads to having a low self esteem. It can also lead to things such as eating disorders. Health teachers, guidance counselors, a doctor, or a parent are all reputable sources to seek out if one is struggling with body image issues, and ultimately one can make goals with them. |
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