President’s Letter: Approaches for Student Anxiety

Greetings, Alabama school counselors!

It’s the beginning of a wonderful new year. As we start the new year, we know that there are many new challenges that school counselors must help students to overcome. Students face different obstacles during the spring semester, but one of the most stressful events that occurs is testing. Most students are taking some type of test during the spring semester of school and with tests come stress and anxiety. Students already face issues that cause general anxiety on a daily basis and testing adds another level of anxiety. As we work with our students during this semester, we want to be proactive and teach them about anxiety, what causes it, and how to cope with anxiety before they experience it. Another important step is to inform teachers, administrators and parents about anxiety and how it impacts students’ lives.

As you are planning your upcoming activities, think about how you are going to put tips about anxiety in your newsletter, on social media, in your emails, throughout the school on bulletin boards and in your discussions and lessons. If you have peer helpers and/or advisory meetings, inform your peer helpers and teachers about anxiety issues and give them tools and information that they can share with students.

I am constantly hearing about all the wonderful things that school counselors across Alabama are doing. Continue to be great because your hard work and dedication really make a difference to your students, schools and communities.

Contact LaWanda Edwards, ALSCA president, at lawandaedwards@hotmail.com.