Challenge Success team addresses student stress
Posted October 10
Six Lancers attended the annual Challenge Success conference held at Stanford University, which brought students, parents, teachers and administrators together to address ways they can reduce the stress and pressures that students face while encouraging them to be engaged in learning.
Today’s emphasis on grades, achievements and 21st century skills is often at the expense of healthy development and a love of learning. Challenge Success aims to help schools reverse this course of thinking.
The conference offered different workshops in which the participants could learn about the latest research and strategies they can take. Armed with more perspective now, the Saint Francis students -- John Gavin, Shannon Geison, Chad Lee, Chris Lewis, Emily Ott and Jessica Roey -- will work with Mrs. Tennant throughout the year to come up with recommendations they can bring to Saint Francis.
One big idea the group wants to work with is to shift what people’s perception of success is.
“People think the meaning of success is going to schools like Yale, Cornell or Duke,” Jessica said. “But that’s not true. You can be successful at any college.”
Saint Francis has been involved with Challenge Success since the program’s inception, and many elements of the school day here, such as collaboration period and the block schedule, come from strategies recommended by Challenge Success. Last year, the team encouraged their peers to write out their entire schedule -- from classes to homework to all extracurricular activities -- so they can see if their days are out of balance.
Jessica and her cohorts are determined to help their classmates manage the widespread nature of stress. They have short- and long-term goals they want to bring to Saint Francis.
“We want to make a difference here,” Jessica said.
