6.5 hours of school. Homework. Sports. Job.

Sleep? Social life?

If you’re trying to juggle all of those things, the last two things on the list may not exist in your life.

In the world today, everyone is so involved in everything and no one has any time to have a social life with their friends or even get enough sleep each night.

Does it affect everyone, though? And, if so, how do they deal with it?

“I usually don’t get stressed out, but once in a while if I do, I eat a lot and play Xbox to relax,” said senior Mike Pitzi.

Despite having a very competitive year in track as well keeping up with academics, senior Lou Corgliano doesn’t get stressed because its not part of his repertoire.

“I’m chill,” he simply stated.

Pitzi and Corgliano are exceptions though, for many others at Hammonton High School struggle to keep everything under control.

“I get stressed out almost every day trying to do homework after work. I spend as many hours as I can hunting in the woods to relax with the quiet surroundings,” explained senior Joe Pinto.

For Pinto, the college application process is a pain, but he enjoys hunting and quiet time in the woods when he needs to put things in perspective.

Mary Ann Nowlan, on the other hand, loses it when she gets stressed.

“I freak out, melt down, and then pull it all together,” she said.

Senior Mary Grace Arena has embraced more positive ways to handle the stress so that the “freak out” doesn’t happen.

“I take time out, to discipline myself, and rely on yoga and meditation [when I get stressed].”

So what can students do when they need advice about dealing with all the stress they feel? Guidance counselors like Mr. Joe Martino and Ms. Evelyn Santiago have advice to offer.

Although Martino doesn’t see students with this problem every day, it is an issue that he sees 1-2 days a week. His advice?

“Do an overall assessment,” he said. “Decide what the most important things you do and begin to prioritize […] Set goals and have a plan.”

Santiago advises that students learn to cut back.

“Whether it’s work hours or extracurricular activities,  you must cut back until you get back on track,” she said. “Seniors are the main subjects of this because of the stress caused by graduation, prom, college applications, etc.”

This approach worked for senior LT Struble, who dealt with a lot of stress junior year.

“I used to get stressed when I had hard classes, but this year I cut back,” he said. “Senior year has been more fun.”