Stress.

Homecoming Week is finished. The temperature has dropped below 50 degrees. The workload has heightened. That can mean only one thing: mental breakdowns.

Freshmen feel deceived; the workload in middle school was light, and prior A-students are seeing a row of Bs and Cs on Powerschool.

Sophomores are broke; in order to get a class ring – the only thing to look forward to as a “tenner” – one must fork up hundreds of dollars.

Juniors are nostalgic; faced with the pressure of SAT prep and pondering what kind of college they want to look into, they feel it was just yesterday that they were fourteen, unable to maneuver through the halls of BHS.

Seniors are expected to be mature; they are suddenly thrust into a plethora of adult activities: jobs, car insurance, buying gas, homework, internships, cadet teaching, and worst of all… college applications. Some don’t know where they’re going. Some don’t know if they’ll get in. And even those who got accepted, like myself, have to worry about financial aid and scholarships.

All in all the students at Bethel High have every right to be stressed out. And sure, we’re kids – but there’s a time to stop being a baby and hold your chin up high.

Some may not realize it, but there is a difference between “complaining” and “venting.” Whining is a coping device for children; venting is an outlet for those under pressure.

There are times where you just need to get into sweats, go to Peachwave, and dish about everything that sucks in your life to your best friend. And that’s totally okay.

But when do you morph into the type of person who requires a pacifier in order to stop whining and wailing? There are a couple red flags:

• When you don’t want a solution.
• When you are not susceptible to advice.
• When you can’t shut up about it.
• When you don’t even try to invoke change.

Everyone has his or her own battle to fight, and everyone needs a release.

But everyone is also expected to pick him or herself up by the bootstraps and figure it out. You’re not the only person unnerved.

If you’re unhappy with something in your life, do something about it. Even if it requires an action you want to avoid, or feel uncomfortable with… it’ll be worth it.

I have a friend who is eighteen-years-old and can’t seem to fend for himself. He recently told me, “Being miserable is a lifestyle for me, not a choice.” Needless to say, it was hard to keep down my lunch after reading that text.

I know what it’s like to be miserable, to not know how to get out of the pit. Everyone does.

That’s why we have friends. Guidance counselors. Twitter. Tumblr. There are a million and five outlets for you to vent. With all these resources, who are you to complain?

Work towards a solution, or keep it quiet. Everyone has his or her own issues, and as for myself, I don’t have the time to deal with someone who isn’t willing to make his life better.

Moral of the story? BHS, and all its affiliates: take a breather. But moreover, stop being a baby.