Anya Panday is a junior at SLPHS and an intern with the communications department. As the Editor-in-Chief of the SLPHS student-run newspaper, Echo, she is committed to the representation of student voice within the district. As an intern for the communications department, she develops a story for each SLP Communicator to incorporate student voice into the district’s communications.

I know that I struggle to stay motivated and positive during the turbulent months of November - March. As a high-achieving student who does a lot of extracurriculars, it’s always hard to find motivation to work and regulate the stress caused by my workload. When it’s cold and gray outside, I find myself feeling more pessimistic and closed off from the world. It becomes harder to get work done, which only amplifies the stress I feel from my workload. I’m not the only high school student that feels this way, so I decided to ask a few questions of my peers. 

With the pressure of rigorous academics, maintaining friendships, participating in an endless amount of extracurriculars and sports, along with the looming presence of deciding what you want to do for the rest of your life, high school is often a challenge for teenagers. Teenagers constantly struggle with mental health and stress regulation, especially when it comes to school work, and this struggle gets worse as the weather gets colder. 

Junior Alicia Mainjeni said she also experiences challenges with school and work load during winter. Mainjeni is involved in many extracurriculars, including theater, DECA, Echo, and more.

“In my high school experience, I’ve noticed that I get more and more anxious around winter time,” Mainjeni said. “Seasonal depression has been a very prominent part of my life throughout high school and it makes me feel drained and unmotivated.”

Along with the “seasonal blues” caused by cold weather, students also have to face the stress of finals season toward the end of January, a time period characterized by being the coldest portion of the year. By the time finals roll around, it often feels as though it’s been winter for 100 years. Trying to study for rigorous finals while also balancing homework and extracurriculars becomes even more of a challenge when all you want to do is stay in bed. 

Junior Alyssa Johannes said she felt similarly about the negative feelings that come up toward school during the colder months. Johannes is also an involved student, and she is both in Echo and a stage manager for theater.

“As a student, the winter is always a struggle,” Johannes said. “There’s always so much to do in each class, and there’s never enough motivation or time in the day to do everything you need to do. The added work in combination with the weather and the overall feelings of stress and frustration makes school so much harder.”

It can be hard to cope with the changes around winter, but you can make it easier by getting enough sunshine, connecting with those around you, and taking time to rest. Johannes said she feels the most supported when those around her make it known that they are there for her.

“I think the best way to support students with seasonal depression is to continuously be there for your kids or your peers when they need help,” Johannes said. “Students are going to feel stressed with the upcoming season and increasing class work, and having someone to help you if you need it can help alleviate some of that stress and depression.”

Mainjeni said teachers at St. Louis Park High School can help support their students by recognizing how their students are feeling and attempting to form deeper connections with them.

“If teachers at Park would be willing to be more reflective of their material, recognize student behavior, and focus on forming connections with students, Park could potentially relieve many of the stressors students have due to more attentive staff,” Mainjeni said.

Along with support from teachers and peers, students value support from their families. I know that when I’m struggling with seasonal depression, it helps to have my family there to support me. If you notice your student struggling during the winter, it can help to gently encourage them to go outside or get some movement in; however, be understanding if they just want to lay in bed sometimes. Rest is just as important as movement or nature, especially when teenagers are often sleep deprived and up late. Overall, while winter is a challenging time for many students, it is easy to alleviate some of that stress by forming a supportive and caring community of trusted adults and peers.

It can be hard to cope with the changes around winter, but you can make it easier by getting enough sunshine, connecting with those around you, and taking time to rest. Johannes said she feels the most supported when those around her make it known that they are there for her.

“I think the best way to support students with seasonal depression is to continuously be there for your kids or your peers when they need help,” Johannes said. “Students are going to feel stressed with the upcoming season and increasing class work, and having someone to help you if you need it can help alleviate some of that stress and depression.”

Mainjeni said teachers at St. Louis Park High School can help support their students by recognizing how their students are feeling and attempting to form deeper connections with them.

“If teachers at Park would be willing to be more reflective of their material, recognize student behavior, and focus on forming connections with students, Park could potentially relieve many of the stressors students have due to more attentive staff,” Mainjeni said.

Along with support from teachers and peers, students value support from their families. I know that when I’m struggling with seasonal depression, it helps to have my family there to support me. If you notice your student struggling during the winter, it can help to gently encourage them to go outside or get some movement in; however, be understanding if they just want to lay in bed sometimes. Rest is just as important as movement or nature, especially when teenagers are often sleep deprived and up late. Overall, while winter is a challenging time for many students, it is easy to alleviate some of that stress by forming a supportive and caring community of trusted adults and peers.