Yesenia Rodriquez is a 16-year-old student who is stressed out. She is a junior at Central High School in Philadelphia and has too much on her plate. Much of Yesenia’s stress comes from her grades. She feels bad about herself every time that she gets a low grade.
Yesenia stated that stress is not something that is understood by many. People would tell her that stress is just a part of life. However, Yesenia knows that chronic stress is damaging. She stated that she and her classmates often have to stay up until 1 a.m. to finish their work. They often have more two tests in one day and have to skip lunch so that they can complete all of their work.
Central High School is a selective high school. Some of the best students in Philadelphia attend this high school. The school has high graduation rates. However, only 30 percent of the students stated that Central High School prepared them for college.
Yesenia is a part of a group called Youth for Change. This is a group that is helping students deal with their stress. The group also led a town hall that addressed those issues. They stated that students should have care rooms where students can come in and relax after a long day.
They also stated that tests should be limited to two per day. Sixty-six percent of children in Philadelphia schools have experienced trauma. Sixty-seven percent of them have been a victim of violence. Eighty-eight percent of them have witnessed a robbery.
Karyn Lynch is the chief of the district of student support services. She stated that trauma has an enormous effect on performance in school. Karen also stated that the schools are already training counselors, training and police officers in dealing with students who have experienced trauma.
Yesenia is hoping that things will change on campus. She stated that mental health should be a part of an ongoing conservation. She hopes that students will feel more comfortable while they are at school.
