David Gallant is writing an eight page history essay. His books are sprawled out in front of him on the kitchen table. There are empty beer cans neatly grouped near the current beer he is drinking. This is exam period for Gallant.
“It’s important to find ways to relieve stress,” he said. Gallant has four essays due within the next two weeks. While some students workout, do yoga, or go for a walk to relieve stress, Gallant does something a little different.
“I have a few go-to things (to relieve stress),” he said. “Talking to friends, watching sports, drinking beer. The more unique one is I have a tendency of smashing things.”
Gallant will take a study break and head to his backyard with his metal bat.
“I’ve smashed mostly chairs. I’ve done gingerbread houses, pumpkins, various rotten fruits, mostly furniture and produce,” he said. Gallant said the weirdest thing that he has ever stress-smashed is a 5 pound brick of bologna.
“Students are subjected to a bunch of different essays, exams and presentations all at the same time,” said Gallant. “If you don’t de-stress it’s pretty easy to go nuts.”
“I have a few friends that don’t deal with stress well,” he said. “The daily interactions you have with them are them just screaming, panicking and saying they don’t know what to do.” Gallant hopes that all stressed students are doing something to combat the hectic exam period.
STUSU President Santiago Chavez says the Students’ Union is committed to helping students during this stressful time with events such as puppy therapy, where students get the chance to pet and cuddle with dogs.
Chavez realizes school organizations can only do so much.
“Self-care is always important and being mindful of keeping one’s stress levels as low as possible is a big part of that,” said Chavez. “We have information indicating that stress relating to school is likely to be one of the main factors contributing to the higher-than-average emergence of mental health illness amongst youth.”
Chavez hopes that the STU-wide events in the next two weeks will have a positive impact on students.
