Manage stress on students in this upcoming school year

   August is when parents, teachers, etc. start thinking about the back-to-school season. We have to worry about buying clothes, school supplies, getting physicals for sports, thinking about getting kids to practices/games for the season, scheduling around school events, and so much more. That can be very trying on parents and teachers, but just imagine how stressful a time this is for the students! The students have been out of school for three months, trying to enjoy summer downtime. Spending time with friends, going swimming, doing camps, sleepovers, being outside, and more. Now, we are gearing up to have them go back to a very rigid schedule of classes, extracurricular activities, homework, and sleep so they can be successful and have a great future. But ironically, so many of us miss the mark when it comes to this. Yes, students need some structure, but are we trying to bind them to our lifestyles more than letting them come to terms with who they are and what they want to do?

   As an older millennial, I grew up in a world that was changing frequently due to technology advancements. And some of those might have happened within years of each other. Today’s students are seeing technological advancements in mere months, if not days in some cases! That is a lot to assimilate and learn about the world around them while still making sure they understand the Pythagorean Theorem and details about medieval Europe. I know when I was in school, my teachers had trouble understanding the changes as easily as we did, so they were in the same old mindset of teaching at the pace they were taught.

   While everyone wants what’s best for their kids and students, sometimes we get in our own way trying to help them. As parents, teachers, administrators, etc., there is always some metric or guideline that needs to be achieved through test scores, aptitude tests, and more, but that never tells the full story about a student’s potential or desires. And with the long timelines for schools to change and adapt to new data and information, it means that many times students lose their interest in their education and sometimes even the desire for what they originally wanted to be. Too often, the rigid way most of us see the world stresses out students and makes it harder or less enjoyable for them to be at school.

   I know that every parent, teacher, administrator, etc. wants what’s best for the students in their care and that’s great! But we also need to remember that everyone learns differently, enjoys different subjects, and has different goals. We can’t model them all the same way or in the ways we prefer. We need to give them the power to grow into their own person while also making sure they have the knowledge they need to be that person. Our jobs are to guide them through to their future, not stress them into a future of our choosing. It’s not always easy, I know! But the more we guide rather than the demand, the greater results we will see, not only this school year, but for years to come. So let’s give them a great school year!

   Always remember that JCED is here as a resource to your business and that we always try to help our businesses and communities grow and prosper. Anytime you have questions, please don’t hesitate to reach out by contacting me at director@jonescountydevelopment.com.