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Coping with year 11 & 12

As a student, I have just started year 11 and I'm already starting to crack under the pressure of school work. I've had a lot of work thrown at me and I've stressed out a lot about falling behind or just not understanding what I'm doing. I have gone and spoken to teachers in class about what I am doing but I still worry about being able to get what I need to do done. I've taken on a large workload and I'm beginning to think it's too much but I need these classes for what I want to do outside of school. My parents keep pushing for me to get good marks and getting everything done but it's getting overwhelming. I've also been having complications with my parents, sibling, and friends so everything is just piling up. Any ideas on how I can keep up with my classwork/homework and how to cope with stress and worry?

Bookworm2004
Bookworm2004Posted 15-03-2020 01:37 PM

Comments

 
MisoBear
MisoBearPosted 15-03-2020 04:29 PM

Hi @Bookworm2004,

 

Sounds like you're dealing with a lot at the moment. Year 11 and 12 can be hugely stressful years, and it doesn't help that parents and teachers can pile on the pressure even more. I remember when I was in 11/12 I felt really stressed a lot of the time. I wish I could go back and talk to past self and let me know that everything was going to be okay. It sounds like you've been really diligent in letting your teachers know how you're feeling. I'm wondering if you could tell me a bit more about the other complications if they're important to how you're feeling? It's hard to give you advice on what to do because I don't know exactly the situation you're in, but I can definitely link to a few resources here on RO if that's helpful to you? Ultimately, you are the expert on your own stress levels, so I'm wondering if there's anything you've done in the past that's helped you to feel less stressed?

 
 
Bookworm2004
Bookworm2004Posted 17-03-2020 01:27 PM
Basically, my parents are constantly fighting with each other and I get dragged into it. My mum's always fighting with me over the smallest things and my sister isn't exactly helping. She goes out of her way to make my life as difficult as she can. And I feel like my friend group is just ignoring me or forgetting that I'm there. I mean, they come to me for help with the problems they're facing but when it comes to when I'm out of it they just don't bother. I've helped them and supported them through many things but when it comes to me asking for help from them. It just gets forgotten or ignores. I feel like I'm being alienated by my family and friends and I keep being distracted and worried about that plus all of my school work.
 
 
 
Eden1717
Eden1717Posted 17-03-2020 01:34 PM

@Bookworm2004  Hello, year 11 and 12 are very hard especially with all the pressure to look at your future. Maybe can you go to the student services people at your school or even the library and ask the staff to help you with a study plan or schedule that you can stick up on your wall or something then you don’t have to keep track of it in your head. Or maybe ask them if there are any resources you can access to help? As for family idk but it isn’t your responsibility to help your parents relationship... do you have somewhere you can go to get some peace and quiet? 

 
 
 
 
Janine-RO
Janine-ROPosted 17-03-2020 01:51 PM

Hey @Bookworm2004 , I think that @Eden1717 's advice is awesome here 🙂 

 

ReachOut also have a nice infographic on some ways to deal with family conflict that I thought might be helpful as well. 

 

Ruby_parentsfighting_line

 

Coping with year 11 & 12 can feel so daunting, but there's a lot of resources out there that can help things seem more manageable. There's a few different things on this page, including some videos from people sharing stuff that helped them and ideas for time management/ managing stress. 

 

Do you have a school counsellor at your school? Some people also find it really helpful to have someone to talk through this stuff with. 

 
 
 
 
 
Bookworm2004
Bookworm2004Posted 17-03-2020 08:09 PM
We do but they are often booked out especially now with the corona virus going around. Plus I'm not that big on talking face to face with someone so I have used online resources in the past As for a quiet place, there isn't really anywhere I have that is quiet. We had a caravan out the back of my place for a while which was nice but that's gone now so school is just about it and I'm normally in the library during breaks.
 
 
 
 
 
Janine-RO
Janine-ROPosted 18-03-2020 02:17 PM

Hey @Bookworm2004 , 

 

That's understandable, it's great that you've found some services that work well for you in the past if face-to-face isn't a great fit for you. 

 

What online resources have you found helpful in the past? If you'd like to chat to someone for one to one support, I have heard good things about eHeadspace . 

Kids Helpline also offer a web based service 

 

The forum community is also here for you 🙂 The library can be a great space to get some peace and quiet at school, do you have  local community library that you like? 

 
 
 
 
 
Bookworm2004
Bookworm2004Posted 18-03-2020 09:08 PM

I have used headspace online chat a few times and that has helped a lot. I don't really visit my local library but am thinking about going a bit more just to get out of the house and so I can get some work done in a less stressful environment. I've got all of my assessments coming up so I'm trying to not worry too much about them or procrastinate studying. I've kinda always put it off. Mostly because I'm not sure how to study but also because I stress out too much and forget what I'm doing while going over examples. Any clues about how I can stress less when studying and how to study?

 
 
 
 
 
MisoBear
MisoBearPosted 19-03-2020 05:46 PM

Hi @Bookworm2004,

 

I know some experts recommend not to listen to music but I always listen to Lofi HipHop without lyrics on youtube (chilledcow is my favourite) while I study and I just headphones cause it helps me to zone out other distractions. When I'm feeling really emotional and can't setting into study I try and go for a walk for 5 minutes without my phone and take some deep breaths. Other than that, I found the best thing to do when I have exams coming up is to section my study days. I write a schedule of when I'm going to take breaks and when I'm going to study and I try to make it realistic. If I can only sit for 20 minutes I do 20 minute chunks with a 5 minute break or something like that, and I make sure to add in longer breaks for lunch and dinner etc. I schedule everything including waking up, showering, eating breakfast. Then when I stick to it I can cross it off and keep track of how long I've been studying for and I feel a sense of acheivement. Usually that helps me to feel calmer. 

 

I also use the app Study Bunny which has a cute bunny that helps me keep on track when I'm studying (and tracks my study chunks) and I use apps to block distracting websites on my phone and computer.  

 
 
 
 
 
Ronan-RO
Ronan-ROPosted 19-03-2020 11:58 AM

Hey @Bookworm2004 

 

Nice to meet you.  You've hit the nail on the head.  Getting out of the house (to library, cafe, friend's house) really helps me.  I always struggle to study at home as there are too many distractions.  I just end up procratinating.

 

Regarding tips, here is a link to some that I hope you find helpful.  Personally, I focus on one subject/topic at a time.  I write my own notes (on a post card or word document) using key words for 45 minutes, then take a break.  I listen to classical music as it helps me concentrate.  Any other music distracts me.  There is a few apps like flora (see this link) that tracks your study.  It's handy Smiley Happy

 

Hope some of this helps 

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