1. Stress Management Stress is defined as the non-specific response of the body to any demand placed on it. The key to reducing stress is to recognize the stress, identify your reaction to it, and look for any healthy solution that fits your style.

2. What’s Stressful About Being a Senior? Big life changes are coming your way- “Graduation anxiety” Saying goodbye to friends soon. The “lasts” of many activities of high school. Pressure to decide what path to take next year Keeping up with classes College applications

3. Warning Signs of Too Much Stress  Pounding of the heart  Difficulty breathing  Insomnia  Decreased or increased appetite  Inability to concentrate  Focusing on mistakes and personal failures  Feeling fatigued and run down for no reason  Overpowering urge to cry, run & hide

4. Managing Stress  Eat right and make healthy choices that give you energy.  Sleep consistently/stick to regular schedule  Cut back on caffeine  Exercise  Do something fun every day  Take plenty of pictures with your friends

5. Managing Stress  Prioritize those things you must do first  Organize your time  Make a list of the tasks you need to accomplish and cross them off as you complete the activity  Learn to share your feelings with your parents  Talk with a trusted adult  Recognize that some stress is unavoidable

6. A Few Last Thoughts Remember, there is no evidence that supports that people who graduate from big name schools are more successful in life (a full quarter of the Harvard class of 1958 was out of work or on welfare in 1994- New York Times report). There is no correlation between grades and achievement in life, except in mathematics (Pope, 2006). 90% of the colleges in the U.S. accept over 80% of those who apply (Antanoff & Friedman, 2006).