During Flex this past Thursday, October 15th, the APS groups gathered to enjoy a short “movie” starring Mr. Sheehan and Mr. Wills. As the movie started, freshmen, sophomores, juniors, and seniors joined around a table, and all were focused on the facts and laughs of the two teachers. Discussing the types of responses from stress, fight or flight, tend and befriend, defense response, and challenge response, the moderators asked how students could improve their stress management, and time skills with social media taking over.

Kelly McGonigal, a health physiologist, also part of TED Talk, talked about how stress could cause damage to our health and well-being, and eventually death all due to stress.  After the short clip of Kelly McGonigal getting some laughs from the audience, and the students, the movie was brought back to familiar faces. Mr. Sheehan and Mr. Wills were seated on couches and chairs, talking about how social media has taken over, and how that could be the main cause of student’s high stress levels, as well as schoolwork and home struggles some may be facing.

After the short talks, they explained how we could use 25 different methods for relieving stress, or 25 Things to De-Stress. As yoga, reading, writing, taking a nap, and going for a walk were said, students agreed and made short comments as they rolled through the 25 ideas. When the 17-minute movie finished, the moderator became more in-depth of the causes for each individual student’s’ stress, whether it be school, sports, or your social life. As soon as the movie finished, the moderator concluded, and everyone took one last piece of food from their group before heading off the second period.