Academics are a common source of stress for teens, especially at high-achieving schools like Whitman. This issue inspired neuropsychologist William Stixrud and PrepMatters founder Ned Johnson to give a presentation Thursday night to help students manage their increasing stress levels.

The talk, held in the auditorium, focused on educating students and parents about stress and motivation amid growing concerns in the community about students’ high anxiety levels.

“The average teenager today reports more anxiety than did the average person who was in
a psychiatric hospital in the [1950s],” Johnson said.

Addressing an audience of around 50 people, Stixrud and Johnson offered strategies to minimize such anxiety and encourage teens to be independent.

The event, which was organized by debate sponsor Colin O’Brien and several Whitman parents, was also a fundraiser for the Speech and Debate Team and for CollegeTracks, an organization that gives low-income students in Montgomery County advice on college applications and financing. Parent volunteers encouraged people to make donations as they entered the auditorium.

Johnson provided several anecdotes from his experience with highly motivated teens, while Stixrud’s insights pertained to his background in aiding struggling students. However, both emphasized the importance of all adolescents feeling like they have control over their short-term academics and long-term success.

“The most stressful thing for a human being is a low sense of control,” Stixrud said.

Johnson gave an example of teens feeling agitated while taking the SAT due to uncontrollable outside factors, such as the intercom beeping or the proctor arriving late.

Students were also instructed to get plenty of sleep, occasionally unplug from electronics
and focus on the activities they’re passionate about.

This advice could be helpful for many students at Whitman, where stress seems to be constantly on the rise, counselor Frances Landau said.

“We’d like to see kids happier and involved in life, involved in more joy and a little less stress,” Landau said.

Above everything else, Stixrud urged students to realize that their high school grades don’t determine their happiness in life.

“What I care about is that you develop yourself so you’re going to have something cool to offer your school.”