It’s that time of year again! Back to school shopping, waking up early, and doing homework. As each day passes, adults ask how school is going, where you want to go to college, and what you want to do. Some people have their lives planned out, and others have no clue. There’s always a feeling of tension in the air, and everyone tries to ignore it. They bury themselves in their homework and wait for the weekend to decompress and reset. They only set themselves up for failure this way. 

Going back to school doesn’t have to be full of stress and anxiety. It can be fun! There are so many different ways to stay motivated and energetic through work, starting with faith. 

Christians often talk about bringing all of your worries, hopes, and joys to God, and for a good reason! Talking to God about what upsets you gives you a clear mind. No need to decompress on the weekend when you have Mass every day at Montrose! It gives a time and place built into the day for you to take time to relax, let go of your worries, and give it all to God.

Another way to reduce stressors in school is by acknowledging them and where they come from in order to solve them. Maybe going to Chemistry class makes you anxious. Maybe it’s because you think it’s too hard or you broke a beaker once. By acknowledging this, you can solve the problem. You can meet with the teacher for extra help to understand the material or get a tutor. You can be more careful in the lab. I used to find that my homework piled up, and I didn’t know how to stay on top of it. I finally started doing my homework the day I got it to prevent that pileup. Maybe that isn’t doable for you, and that’s ok. You can block off free time to do it and use your study halls during the day. 

Once I started telling God all of my worries and doing my homework that day, I had so much more free time to do what I love and relax. I didn’t have nearly as much stress, and I was able to be with my family, instead of holed up in my room. 

​​Remember that having faith in the new school year doesn’t mean everything will be easy or perfect. There will be challenges and setbacks, but having faith in your ability to navigate them can make a significant difference in your educational experience. Stay close to God, stay optimistic, stay motivated, and believe in your potential for success in the coming school year.

By Anya Marino ‘24, Faith Editor 

24amarino@montroseschool.org