Does the word finals or End of Course (EOC) exam make you stressed? The end of the school year brings summer and fun but it also brings stress because of finals and grades. Stress isn’t good for your body and can have a lot of negative impacts such as low self esteem and chest pain. For some with mental health problems, finals can be an extremely hard time. It’s not very surprising that school is the highest stressor among teens and finals just worsens this, but there are ways to help this stress.

Come May 1 from 5:30 to 7 p.m. in the gym for their de-stress event. There will be Kona Ice, baked goods, a yoga instructor, help from teachers, study tips, kinetic sand and so much more. The event is jam packed with things to do and something for everyone.

“I know it’s not the same for everyone but for me it definitely plays a role into how I perceive myself, because I get really stressed out,” senior Marissa Pukala-Whitaker said. “I’m just like I have all this stuff, I don’t know what I can do, I feel like I can do more. And I get a little upset in the stomach, but it’s totally normal to feel that way at the same time.”

A little stress at times is healthy. When it turns into constant severe stress, that’s when it becomes a problem.  

This year a new club called Come Together is creating a destress event to help make finals a little less tense. They have several things to make finals less stressful and a place to relax. Pukala-Whitaker is one of the main people working to make this a great event.

“Mental health wise I know it can be a challenge because you’re struggling with not just what you feel in everyday but also what you feel when you’re under stress and pressure,” Pukala-Whitaker said.

Come Together is a leadership club for student-to-student support. Their goal is to raise awareness and acceptance of mental health issues at Liberty. They want to help everyone feel accepted and included even though they may be struggling emotionally. Their members have been trained to understand different mental health problems and healthy coping skills for handling distress. They’ve also learned how to respond to a crisis in which a friend may be suicidal or in some type of dangerous situation. Next year they plan to add more club members, there will be more training and ongoing meetings to help support each other without feeling judged.

“Come Together welcomes all students who may want to join as trained student leaders, as well as those who just want to attend open meetings.” said Ms. Rustemeyer, a sponsor of Come Together.

“A lot of preparation has gone into this event, a lot of it is very much planning out, scheduling, kind of just seeing what we can do, not only for us but to get other clubs involved,” Pukala-Whitaker said. Come Together has collaborated with other clubs to increase the number and variety of booths.

If anyone is having thoughts of suicide or concerned about a friend who is in crisis, you can call the crisis helpline at 636-642-0642 or text “BSAFE” to 31658. Or the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-8255. For crises during the school day, for immediate assistance, please come down to the Counseling Office.