Class of 2011
I really found athletics to be a great stress reducer even though it meant less time for me to focus on academics
By far my biggest struggle in high school was keeping up my grades. I wasn’t someone who was border lining the D/F range, but rather driving myself crazy over the A/A- range. It is absurd now that I think of it, and I’m still currently trying to break that bad habit, even in my second year in college.
I was always just really concerned about getting into college. From my point of view in high school, it seemed like if you didn’t into a good college, you were a failure in the eyes of my high school in Northern Virginia. When I look back, it really amazes me that I didn’t crack or go absolutely crazy because my school was literally like a pressure cooker in terms of the expectations placed upon us.
I had a great support system and I’m very thankful for it. Friends, family, and even some staff members were included in that. I really found athletics to be a great stress reducer even though it meant less time for me to focus on academics. In some crazy way it made me approach academics more systematically and organized because of the reduced amount of time I had.
I wish that there had been more respect between faculty and students, especially with seniors. Some staff did play favorites and made it apparent (so much for breaking those high school clichés). I think the art department was practically the only place where I felt like I was being treated like an adult.
One thing I think may really help to strengthen the student body (and this is something I wish had existed when I was at WTW) is a type of student mentorship. I envision a senior being paired with a freshman, and it may include getting help with academics, help getting adjusted to high school, or simply having someone who you aren’t use to hanging out with. I think even some freshmen could teach some seniors a thing or two.
There were times that I would feel so much stress that I did get panic attacks. Those were most defiantly scary, but I didn’t ever have suicidal thoughts. My parent’s never really talked directly to me about suicide, but I can vaguely remember phrases like “cowards kill themselves” and stuff along those lines. But to be honest, I don’t think parents can always see the signs of someone who is depressed, because I feel like people who are depressed get very creative ideas on how to hide their emotions around people they feel might judge them most (or people they have the most to lose from if they were to display those emotions).
Every time I hear of another Fairfax County student passing away, it really hits home and almost angers me. I say that because during my senior year, a student in one of my classes had reached out to me with his depression, which eventually turned into himself harming himself. I tried to be an outlet for him as long as I felt it was beneficial to him-- until the point came where his total tone and character seemed to change. I did reach out to a staff member at school and her response blew me away. She took it seriously and didn’t hesitate to get this student the help he needed. Thankfully, he did get the help and he’s alive today.
When I hear about high school students from my community taking their own lives, it makes me wonder “what if” and also makes me question if there people who knew of such information and felt like there was no staff member they could turn to in order to help out a fellow student. I’m realizing now that these feelings have been kind of been bottled up inside me for the past couple of years and I finally feel like I can get them out now.
I really wanted to help my community in any way I can, because I feel like at a time like this, the most valuable resources available are those who are now on the outside (like alumni) but have had the opportunity to be an insider also. I wonder if Fairfax County Public Schools alumni could somehow in the future create a support network for each other and for current students.
You are not alone. Together we can be resilient. However, this website is not to be used in place of therapy or other forms of help. Non-judgmental help is available 24-7: Call Crisis Link at 1-800-273-TALK(8255). Text with a Crisis Text Line specialist, by texting “TALK” to 741-741. (You can also go to your nearest emergency room or call 911.)
You can also chat online with a specialist at CrisisChat.org (between 2pm and 2am) or ImAlive.org. Many other links to various types of assistance are also available on our RESOURCES page. Help is out there. Reach out, for yourself, or for someone else.
I really found athletics to be a great stress reducer even though it meant less time for me to focus on academics
By far my biggest struggle in high school was keeping up my grades. I wasn’t someone who was border lining the D/F range, but rather driving myself crazy over the A/A- range. It is absurd now that I think of it, and I’m still currently trying to break that bad habit, even in my second year in college.
I was always just really concerned about getting into college. From my point of view in high school, it seemed like if you didn’t into a good college, you were a failure in the eyes of my high school in Northern Virginia. When I look back, it really amazes me that I didn’t crack or go absolutely crazy because my school was literally like a pressure cooker in terms of the expectations placed upon us.
I had a great support system and I’m very thankful for it. Friends, family, and even some staff members were included in that. I really found athletics to be a great stress reducer even though it meant less time for me to focus on academics. In some crazy way it made me approach academics more systematically and organized because of the reduced amount of time I had.
I wish that there had been more respect between faculty and students, especially with seniors. Some staff did play favorites and made it apparent (so much for breaking those high school clichés). I think the art department was practically the only place where I felt like I was being treated like an adult.
One thing I think may really help to strengthen the student body (and this is something I wish had existed when I was at WTW) is a type of student mentorship. I envision a senior being paired with a freshman, and it may include getting help with academics, help getting adjusted to high school, or simply having someone who you aren’t use to hanging out with. I think even some freshmen could teach some seniors a thing or two.
There were times that I would feel so much stress that I did get panic attacks. Those were most defiantly scary, but I didn’t ever have suicidal thoughts. My parent’s never really talked directly to me about suicide, but I can vaguely remember phrases like “cowards kill themselves” and stuff along those lines. But to be honest, I don’t think parents can always see the signs of someone who is depressed, because I feel like people who are depressed get very creative ideas on how to hide their emotions around people they feel might judge them most (or people they have the most to lose from if they were to display those emotions).
Every time I hear of another Fairfax County student passing away, it really hits home and almost angers me. I say that because during my senior year, a student in one of my classes had reached out to me with his depression, which eventually turned into himself harming himself. I tried to be an outlet for him as long as I felt it was beneficial to him-- until the point came where his total tone and character seemed to change. I did reach out to a staff member at school and her response blew me away. She took it seriously and didn’t hesitate to get this student the help he needed. Thankfully, he did get the help and he’s alive today.
When I hear about high school students from my community taking their own lives, it makes me wonder “what if” and also makes me question if there people who knew of such information and felt like there was no staff member they could turn to in order to help out a fellow student. I’m realizing now that these feelings have been kind of been bottled up inside me for the past couple of years and I finally feel like I can get them out now.
I really wanted to help my community in any way I can, because I feel like at a time like this, the most valuable resources available are those who are now on the outside (like alumni) but have had the opportunity to be an insider also. I wonder if Fairfax County Public Schools alumni could somehow in the future create a support network for each other and for current students.
You are not alone. Together we can be resilient. However, this website is not to be used in place of therapy or other forms of help. Non-judgmental help is available 24-7: Call Crisis Link at 1-800-273-TALK(8255). Text with a Crisis Text Line specialist, by texting “TALK” to 741-741. (You can also go to your nearest emergency room or call 911.)
You can also chat online with a specialist at CrisisChat.org (between 2pm and 2am) or ImAlive.org. Many other links to various types of assistance are also available on our RESOURCES page. Help is out there. Reach out, for yourself, or for someone else.
