(From left to right) Senior Maria Orsay colors alongside sophomore Tyler Durbin and freshman Rebecca Orsay as one of De-Stress Day’s five activities. De-Stress Day was organized by the De-Stress and Wellness Club which meets every other Wednesday after school in room 2402 or 2156. “I just like the activities,” co-founder and junior Connie Chen said. “I really like having the variety of activities that people can choose from. And I think it’s a fun experience for people.”

In the face of the last few weeks before finals, the De-Stress and Wellness Club hosted De-Stress Day during seminar Dec. 5. Students could meditate in room 2402, color in room 1182, do yoga in the Ramming Gym, play games in room 3344, or nap in the teleconference room.

This is the first school year that Ladue High School will have more than one De-Stress Day. Co-founder and junior Connie Chen says the club decided to plan a De-Stress Day this semester as a way for students to alleviate their anxiety over finals, and she hopes that students were able to relieve any feelings of academic pressure.

“The goal of De-Stress Day is to provide an opportunity for all students to just relax and de-stress from homework, from tests, from pressure that they get outside of school,” Chen said. “It really takes a toll on all students and I feel like having this opportunity will be very beneficial for them to get to de-stress.”

De-Stress and Wellness Club co-sponsor and AP Psychology teacher Mr. Westerholt believes that the timeliness of De-Stress Day is appropriate as it can not only reduce the intensities of finals but also of the upcoming holiday season. Likewise to Chen, Westerholt hopes that De-Stress Day is a way for students to feel better about finals.

“What we now know [about stress] is seasonal affective disorder, [which] was originally thought to have arisen because of all the familial pressures and whatnot that arise during the holiday,” Westerholt said. “Now, [psychologists] realized that it’s related to the diminished sunlight as well. And so I think that between a final exams coming up, that period between Thanksgiving and Valentine’s Day is a very difficult time for a lot of people emotionally, that it makes sense to do it in that early part so that any issues won’t interfere with their performance for the their final exams.”

However, Westerholt recognizes that stress and mental health is an ongoing problem that persists outside of finals week. In fact, about 20 percent of all teens experience depression before they reach adulthood. Therefore, Chen recommends that students find activities that help their mental well-being.

“One thing I do a lot is listening to calming music,” Chen said. “I love listening to instrumentals or things that really help me to not think about school or not think about the things that are making me stressed out just for a few minutes, and taking deep breaths, and making sure that your health is put first.”

The De-Stress and Wellness Club meets every other Wednesday after school in room 2402 or 2156 to play games and host open discussions as a means of self-expressions. The club plans to organize another De-Stress Day and possibly collaborate with community service programs or mindfulness classes like yoga to further their goals.

“The goal [of the De-Stress and Wellness Club] is to promote a healthy lifestyle in terms of positive psychology, and [to] be a resource for students that think that they need some other systems to provide opportunities where the school community at large can participate in these kinds of programs,” Westerholt said. “Eventually I’d like to see maybe some more things and more opportunities done where we don’t have to limit it to just twice a year, that it can be an ongoing activity.”