Passing the stress test: December packed with pressure for many high school seniors

AS DECEMBER ROLLS IN, most people think about holiday breaks and Christmas. But for high school students — especially seniors — it’s often the opposite. Between college applications, finals, major projects, and extracurriculars, many describe December as the most stressful month of the year.

According to the American Institute of Stress, teens deal with stress daily from school, family, social life, and major life changes, often without the same coping skills adults develop. The American Psychological Association in 2024 reported that 70% of U.S. teens identify anxiety or depression as major issues, 75% say they experience negative emotions in school, and on a 10-point stress scale, teens average 5.8, far above the adult average of 3.8. In addition, 75% of high schoolers and half of middle schoolers feel stressed because of schoolwork.