All students experience stress but some cope with it better than others. Here are some tips by Headspace for coping with exam stress:

Breathe: When we are stressed we can overbreathe or hyperventilate, possibly making us dizzy, light headed, breathless and confused. If you’re feeling stressed think about how you’re breathing, and try to bring it back to a normal, calm rate.

Eat: It’s easy to start skipping meals and fall into bad eating habits when we’re stressed and busy – make sure you prioritise eating, especially in the morning.

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Sleep: Feeling cranky? Can’t concentrate? Maybe you’re not sleeping enough. Try to get a big chunk of sleep every night. Somewhere in the range of seven to 8.5 hours is best.

Be active: Don’t study continuously for hours. Get up and move around, get your blood pumping. Exercise will help keep stress down and energy up.

Organisation: Schedule in study and find your own organisation style. Make your study space your own.

Reward yourself: Make time for things and people that make you feel good. Celebrate small victories, and give yourself some credit for the hard work you’re putting in.

Talk: Talking to someone you trust can help you put things in perspective. It can be hard for others to tell how you’re really doing.

Find someone you can talk honestly with about how things are going for you, not just in the HSC but in life in general.

Or get in touch with a professional, like a youth worker, school counsellor, general practitioner, or health service like Headspace.

What can be achieved

St Joseph’s Catholic High School is justifiably proud of its major projects for 2016.

The subject is Industrial Technology - Timber and Furniture – and is run by the TAS faculty (Technology and Applied Studies).

“The major projects are designed and planned out by each student commencing in Term 4 of Year 11 (2015) and are marked by BOSTES in August during the HSC year,” TAS department coordinator Glenn Lowe said. 

“This particular class set themselves high standards very early in development.

“A process of negotiation and discussion with their teacher is needed to ensure the correct amount of technical skill and joinery is displayed to demonstrate the correct skill set.

“Students are also required to write an 80 page folio that describes their intentions, the process used and the skills demonstrated.”

A student in another subject was sponsored by NSW Rail to restore a piece of rail history called a Fettler’s Trike for display in the Illawarra. 

“It will be handed back to State Rail later this month at an official function.”

Projects like these prepare students for their future career.

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