Around this time of year, the number of fights at Sahuaro seems to rise. What might begin as small disagreements quickly turns into bigger conflicts as we get closer to winter break. What’s causing these fights to happen more often this time of year, and how can we keep things from getting worse?
As we approach finals, “many students are seeing how they’re actually doing in their classes, and it really stresses them out when they’re not doing as well as they should,” says in-school suspension coordinator Mr. Purkiss. The pressure to pull up grades, finish projects, and prepare for exams can make students feel overwhelmed. What might normally be a small argument can quickly escalate when a student is already at their breaking point. Mr. Purkiss also commented that with this time of year, there is “a lot of stress with the holidays and a lot of students don’t have the perfect lives, perfect families. This time of year there are a lot of different things that would stress anybody out, and usually, teenagers don’t know how to deal with it yet.”
It’s not just the stress of school that’s making things tense. As the days get shorter and the weather gets colder, many students struggle with mood changes. The lack of sunlight and the cold weather can bring on feelings of irritability, tiredness, and sometimes even depression. Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) affects many people during the colder months, making it harder to cope with stress and students are more likely to have flared tempers.
The holiday season is supposed to be a time for joy, but for many students, it adds another layer of stress. For some youth, it’s the pressure to perform and meet family expectations. For some, the holidays bring up difficult emotions, especially if their home life isn’t perfect. Financial struggles, family problems, or the anxiety of dealing with extended family can make students feel more on edge and all this piling up on them raises another major issue and that is that many teenagers simply don’t know how to cope with all the overwhelming situations. Without healthy outlets to manage those feelings, emotions often lead to arguments and fights.
As fights continue to increase, schools must offer resources to help students manage their emotions and resolve conflicts peacefully. By helping students develop healthier ways to cope with stress, we can work together to reduce the number of fights and create a more positive environment for everyone.
