The Youth Action Advisory Board teamed up with the Mind Matters Club and planned a stress-free week for Masco students from January 13-17.
The week began with Mindfulness Monday, where mindfulness tips were on the bulletin boards as students entered the school, reminding them of ways to take care of themselves . Students also had the option to enter their own tips to de-stress themselves. They wrote down their coping mechanisms for dealing with stress. This time of year these tips could be very quite useful since students are amid midterms and finals.
Tea Tuesday was next, and on this day, decaf tea and hot cocoa were available to students in the morning. They were able in the small cafeteria for those needing a warm drink in the morning.
On the 15th, Aster, the campus’s emotional support police dog, visited students during lunch, and on Thoughtful Thursday, Mandala coloring sheets and stickers by number were available for students. These could be found in the library during lunch and m-block.
Lastly, Fun Friday offered play board games for students to play with their friends in the library with members of the Youth Action Advisory Board.
YAAB member Belle Dicarlo said that midterms can be incredibly stressful and hoped this could be a helpful way to cheer up students and help teach them how to get through stressful periods.
“YAAB focuses a lot on mental health, so we believe that stress is a very significant issue and that students can find healthy coping skills for dealing with stress so that they don’t turn to unhealthy habits to relieve stress,” said Dicarlo.
The board does not want this to be a one-time thing where students learn to cope with large and extended periods of stress, but for these skills to be carried with them daily to live an all-around healthier lifestyle. Stress not only deteriorates people’s mental health but can also lead to physical symptoms that create a snowball effect, impacting many parts of our daily lives.
Having an advisory board with teens has proven to be helpful for the Tri-Town Council, as they come up with events and plan their projects as part of the group they’re trying to help, allowing them to understand what people from their age group need.
The board advisors, Meredith Shaw and Nicole Gregoire-Allis, shared similar sentiments as Dicarlo regarding the importance of teaching students how to deal with stress.
Gregoire-Allis said, “Stress management is not a one-size-fits-all solution. It’s more of a toolbox that we each need to fill with the things that help us the most. Then, it’s a matter of being mindful of how we are feeling, and committing to taking action when we need to.”
This is why they have chosen to have multiple days showcasing different coping strategies. Everyone has something that will work for them; it’s just a matter of finding what it is and learning to apply it.
Next up, the YAAB and the Tri-Town Council will be hosting a Community Conversation on Tuesday, January 28, from 7-9 p.m. in the Masco small cafeteria. They will show data from the 2023 Youth Risk Behavior Survey (YRBS), have participants complete a quiz, and discuss it in small groups.