wynpress
by Mikaela Meyer
WYNBERG GIRLS' HIGH SCHOOL
LIMITS
TERM 1 2019 ISSUE
Contents 01 Editor's Letter - M. Salie 02 Limitless in the Ocean - C. Gonsalves & L. Natus 06 Letters for You 16 Femi-what? - A. Vazidlule 18 Fear is our Biggest Limit - N. van Tellingen 19 Creative Problems & Creative Possibilities - C. Britten 21 Pushing (Stress) Limits - M. Bosch 22 Implementing Self-Care - C. Birch 24 Psychological Limits - J. Ryklief 25 Boundaries - K. Meiring 26 the Limits of Our Oceans - K. Blake 27 Like Yourself - L. Bosch
the Editor's Letter We all have our limits, whether it is how late we can sleep, how much study material we can cram or how far we can run. Everything has a limit (except maybe the universe). It's important to know what and where these limits are -and if we can push them or leave them be. At the moment, your running limit might be one kilometre before you are seriously struggling to breathe, but with practice, it could be two kilometres next month. Limits and growth go hand in hand, and too much of either result badly. Knowing how much we can do before we crash is part of self-consciousness. In this Wynpress, we have brought to you, our lovely reader, all the different elements of limits (and the lack of limits). We hope you have a good read, and if you have anything to say, just approach anyone on our team! Going further, if you ever want to write for Wynpress, email me, the editor, at 19mumsal@wynghs.co.za! - Mu'minah Salie
Limitless in the Ocean Imagine never being able to dip your toes in the salty water of the ocean or never being able to stroll along the beach and accept the full beauty of it. Forget even dreaming about doing something as cool and exotic as surfing. These are just a few of the limitations to which people with disabilities can be subjected. In life, we almost always take the little things for granted, the things that others can only dream of having. As a community, it is crucial for us to be aware of the difficulties that others around us experience. When it comes to issues surrounding disabilities, people need to be encouraged to get involved and show some support. A wonderful example of such an awareness programme is Surf Emporium's Adaptive Surfing Day. This day is aimed at allowing people with any form of disability -physical and mental- to experience the exhilarating sensation of surfing.Â
Surf Emporium was founded in 2003, by nine times South African Surfing Champion, Roxy Davis. She is a professional Surf Coach, a successful businesswoman and a mother . She takes great joy in helping and teaching others how to surf. She now runs the biggest Surf School in South Africa and one of the biggest in the world. Roxy is passionate about giving back to the sport that helped shape her and all that she stands for. This local and world-renowned Surf School started in 2002 with only an umbrella on Muizenberg beach and Roxy's clear vision for the future, This vision soon became a reality as she started off with only teaching 40 girls a week and escalating to 200 in less than a year. The amount of dedication and passion that Roxy put into her surfing has not only allowed her to become one of the best surfers in the world, but has also given her the opportunity to give back to those around her and to help shape the minds of today's youth through her love for surfing. Roxy, partnered with Adaptive Surfing Cape Town, an organisation that provides adaptive surfers with support and the opportunity to surf, uses Surf Emporium Muizenberg as a base from which to teach surfing and host the annual Adaptive Surfing Day. Adaptive Surfing first made its way to South Africa in 2011 and has now grown to become one of the biggest surfing organisations allowing the adaptive surfers to compete alongside ablebodied surfers. An adaptive surfer is someone with a disability,for instance, being paralysed, blind or one who has had a limb amputated. Adaptive Surfing has grown so much over the past few years that it was recently made a part of the Olympics and Paralympics Games. Adaptive Surfing is very similar to normal surfing as it involves the surfer paddling out and riding the waves towards the beach front. For the past 3 years the International Surfing Association has held world adaptive surfing championships starting with only 69 surfers from 18 nations to 109 surfers from 26 nations. This has not only allowed the adaptive surfers to compete, but it has made them feel as if they have no limitations and that nothing is impossible. Those few moments in the water allow the surfers to feel happy, strong and, most importantly, to feel as if there is nothing that can stop them not even their disabilities.
Surf Emporium, partnered with Roxy Davis, allows you to book an adaptive surf lesson, become a volunteer, ask about adaptive surfing clinics and to donate to the adaptive surfing cause. Coaches and staff at Surf Emporium are not only taught to train adaptive surfers, but they are also humble, kind, caring and have a deep passion and enthusiasm for what they do. They try their best to make everyone who walks through their shop doors (or even along the beach) feel the same. Wynberg Girls’ and Boys’ High Schools were fortunate enough to spend some time with these incredible people and the joy on the adaptive surfer’s face when seeing their coaches for the day was unbelievable . For many of these surfers this was not a one-time event for them or just a day of surfing, this was something that they have been waiting for: a time to surf, to laugh and to see not just their coaches, but rather their friends with whom, over the years, they have started a relationship and have developed a sense of trust as they paddle out into deep blue sea . On the 28th of October 2018, volunteers from Wynberg Girls’ and Boys’ High Schools attended the Adaptive Surfing Day event. They were given a variety of tasks that allowed them to really engage with the
adaptive surfers. Upon arrival, they had to help the surfers into their wetsuits. This required a lot of strength and courage from both parties. The other tasks ranged from carrying surfers down to the beach and then creating a support system in the water to ensure the surfer's safety. The day was filled with fun and served as a wonderful learning experience. However, it also instilled a sense of responsibility in the students who were volunteering. On the day, there were many speakers and cameramen on the beach, reporting on the event. Here's what some of the volunteers had to say about their experience: Mia Boshoff: “We ourselves feel that what we are doing is just a drop in the ocean. But the ocean would be less because of that missing drop."- Mother Teresa Hannah Moses: The Adaptive Surfing Day with Roxy was one of the highlights of my year. It was such a fulfilling experience, knowing that I touched someone's life. Carla Reinecke and I helped an elderly woman named Pam. In the beginning, she was quite firm about whom she wanted to help her and how she wanted to be helped. We were afraid of hurting her, but were soon assured that we were doing a good job. While in the water, we all enjoyed ourselves as we saw the faces of many people young and old- light up with pure enjoyment. At the end of the day, my heart was full of love and compassion as we received the most wonderful feedback from Pam herself. Christan Gonsalves: The day spent at Surf Emporium was one of the best days of my life. I have so much more respect for surfers, coaches and staff at Surf Emporium. Being able to be a part of such an important day and meeting all these amazing adaptive surfers who have such positive attitudes and seeing their smiles as they come off the water was very inspiring and gave me the courage to do things which, before, I was too afraid to attempt. I have never seen so much courage, bravery and joy than during my time with the adaptive surfers. I was also fortunate enough to meet Roxy Davis who is a true inspiration not just to surfers, but also to females all over the world. This humble, kind, passionate and truly devoted individual has really made her mark on the world has inspired me to do more for those around me and to share my passion hoping that it will bring many other people joy and love in their lives.
Overall, it was a great  success. However, the more volunteers, the better, therefore, we encourage people to become more involved in the surfing community. This is, of course, not a popular community service, but it is definitely an event worth learning about. There are numerous ways in which one can become involved , whether you are disabled or not: 1) If you are someone with a disability, you can book a private adaptive surfing lesson conducted by a professional. 2) If you are someone with a disability, you can join the free Adaptive Surf Clinics run at Surf Emporium annually. 3) You can sign up to join the Adaptive Surfing Volunteer mailing list where you will receive information about all current and upcoming events. 4) Adaptive Surfing Cape Town is a non-profit initiative and does require some funding. Sponsors and donations would be greatly appreciated. If you would like to find out more or donate to Adaptive Surfing, you can contact them on info@surfemporium.co.za or 021 788 8687. - Christan Gonsalves & Lieschen Natus
Letters for You
by Jordan Abrahamse
Dear Grade 8s This is your very first Wynpress, I encourage you to read each and every one of them through your years at Wynberg. You’ll be surprised to discover the talent our young writers have here in our very own school. If you’re interested in writing, I encourage you to get involved in Wynpress yourself by submitting articles to one of the committee members. Now, let’s get down to business. There are so many lessons you have to learn as you begin high school. It’s a fresh start, and right now you have so much potential and opportunity which you will realise as your mind expands and you grow yourself day by day. During your time at Wynberg you will experience much and learn a great deal, and although it seems new now, it starts to feel like home more and more each day. Adjusting to high school and a whole new environment can be daunting. I encourage you to grab every opportunity provided right from the beginning, and, trust me, there will be many. Try every sport you’ve wanted to try, join clubs that appeal to you, get involved in dramatic productions, academic olympiads, service events and anything you possibly can. The more you do, the easier you will find the adjustment into your new school. Once involved, you will notice how many people you will meet with similar interests and with whom you will be able to make memories throughout your years at Wynberg, and who knows, maybe even later in life. One thing to remember is: you’re not alone. Here at Wynberg, there are so many people to whom you can turn for almost anything. Many girls around you are going through similar things. Whether it be stress, not being able to fit in, feeling alone, going through friendship or relationship problems. Your feelings are valid and there are people who will support you. We have a great counselling centre (down the stairs under the life skills room) with counsellors who will be more than happy to lend an ear and offer advice. We have peer guides who are trained. Don't be afraid to talk to your tutor teacher. In such a big and busy school feeling lonely is inevitable, It’s important always to remember that you’re never alone.
High school is definitely more academically demanding. Your learning is a lot more independent and you’re expected to do a lot by yourself compared to primary school. It’s far too easy to leave things to the last minute and end up disappointed with your results. My best advice to you: do the work on time, write things down, stay organised and on top of things, and always, always, always, do your homework. To end off, one last piece of advice would be to stay true to yourself. High school is a time of many changes: mentally, emotionally and physically. If you’re true to yourself, the right things will come your way and your experiences here will be nothing but prosperous and rewarding. Have fun, but work hard and enjoy your grade 8 year. Ensure that you don’t miss out on anything - you will regret it. Your time here will go a lot more quickly than you expect. - Sage Seef
Dear Grade 9s This year you are in Grade Nine. You are no longer the ‘babies’ of the school, so this is the right time to pull up your socks if you haven’t already. Although this year is going to be full of all kinds of obstacles and tests, you’ll have loads of fun nonetheless. Grade Nine is quite different from what Grade Eight was like. First off, you have a much bigger workload than you had in Grade Eight. You start to settle in more, socially, and you’ve become more familiar with your surroundings. This year is a lot more comfortable, but the trials will still manage to keep you on your toes if you don’t keep your balance. Time management is key. This year you go on camp. It's a given that it will be the perfect time to make new friends, good memories and even just strengthen current friendships. Camp shines a new light on each of you and pushes you out of your comfort zone. Term Three is a busy term. With lots of projects. You’ll have your hands full, but this is the time to score some marks. Projects are fun and allow your creativity to flow, but they take lots of time and effort. Invest your energy in these, manage your time well and you’ll be set. 2019 is your last year learning subjects like EMS, Technology and Natural Science. By Term Four, you will have decided on your subjects for Grade Ten. This is a choice about which you need to think long and hard. Remember that these are the subjects you will have to study for the next three years. It’s important that they are subjects you enjoy and which are your strengths. Your future career should also be taken into account. See which subjects are required for your chosen field and move from there. Go into 2019 with an optimistic approach and do not forget to pace yourself. This year is in your hands, so go forth with this famous Hannah Montana quote, “Life’s what you make it, so let’s make it rock!” Make your Grade Nine year one to remembermake it rock.
- Lois Flandorp
Dear Grade 10s Firstly, congrats - almost halfway through high school! You’ve finally reached the fantastic year of dropping some subjects and, believe me, you’ll soon realize how much you’ll appreciate not having all that weight on your back. There are many things that I would do differently, had I been given the chance to re-do my grade 10 year. Here are my top tips for going into this new stage of your life: ASK QUESTIONS/PRACTICE MAKES PERFECT - you probably hear this all time, but the only way to truly cope with the load of content you’re going to be given, is to ask questions and fully understand the basics of anything first. Make sure that you’ve fully grasped a concept by querying and practising (i.e practise past papers, go to Academic Support, look for online activities and solutions, do your homework). ALWAYS DO YOUR MATHS HOMEWORK (and any other homework for that matter) - In short, just trust me on this one. Spare yourself the confusion of later not knowing what is going on and acquiring the dreaded demerits. DON’T LEAVE PROJECTS/ASSIGNMENTS/STUDYING TO THE NIGHT BEFORE - Unless you want about 3 hours of sleep on a school night, I highly recommend that you prepare, plan and manage your time accordingly. Starting assignments even a week before the due date is not enough time. Take responsibility and begin projects as soon as possible. DON’T “GOOF OFF” ON YOUR OFF DAYS - You’re going to start finding yourself having more off days during exams and often having only one or even no test lesson a week instead of the regular two. Do not waste these days that give you hours of precious time. Study and work hard.
GET INVOLVED - This is your year to do so if you haven’t already or are wanting to apply for leadership positions next year. Branch out and join new societies. Challenge yourself! UNDERSTAND THAT FRIEND GROUPS CHANGE - Over the years, friendships and people change. This is a part of life. You may find yourself forming new friendships, sitting with other groups and letting go of old friendships. And that’s okay. Don’t be afraid of meeting new people and branching out. MOST IMPORTANTLY, BELIEVE IN YOURSELF - It sounds very clichéd, but it’s true. While grade 10 might seem scary and difficult, you’ve got this! It isn’t as bad as people make it out to be. Believe in yourself, work hard, try your best and you’ll soar. While many of these tips may have been words you’ve been hearing for years, often only at this age do you learn the true value of what they mean. Grade 10 is a year to enjoy, not to fear. Change and growth are part of a process that you’ll soon discover. All the very best, girls! I'm rooting for you! - Lara Marais
Dear Grade 11s While Grade 11 was a good year for me in terms of growth and development and moments spent with those close to me, it has been the toughest year of school for me, as it is for most people. There were many times during the year where I felt totally overwhelmed by the workload, the deadlines, the expectations and the constant lingering of phrases like “these marks go to university” and “you have to apply for leadership this year”. Here are my tips on how to keep head above the water and make grade 11 your year. - Take care of your mind and body: Because we’re so caught up in life and constantly chasing goals and deadlines we often forget to engage in proper self-care (face masks don’t cure flu nor prevent panic attacks). Eat lots of nutrient-rich foods, take a B Vitamin supplement every day, attempt to get more than 5 hours of sleep per night, meditation and exercise regularly (the lab stairs, sadly, don’t count). Your immune system will thank you, your anxiety will thank you, and Mrs Harding will thank you for keeping your days’ absent number low. - Surround yourself with hard-working people: Perks of being friends with a group of motivated and disciplined women is that they inspire you to develop a good work ethic and actually get things done (or at least have the scaffolding of a plan of action in your back pocket). It also helps to have a support group backing you at all times, helping proofread orals and essays, share and compare notes, teaching each other content and being a shoulder for someone to cry on when you feel absolutely useless. - Don’t let leadership get the best of you: Here’s the deal, at the beginning of the year everyone is all “oh no I’m not applying for XYZ, you can have it.” Then all of a sudden you feel a sharp pain in your lower lumbar vertebrae (how did that knife get there?). The best advice I can give you,
dear reader, is to APPLY FOR THAT POSITION, and if you know your dearest best friend is also wanting that position TELL HER. There’s no point in risking a good friendship by lying and deceiving everyone. It doesn’t matter if so-and-so is applying for that position as well and “yeah but she’s so much better than me she’ll so get it” - BELIEVE IN YOURSELF. Because if you don’t, how can you expect the people you want to lead to? #sêmaarnet - Don’t be afraid to ask for help: Grade 11 is no joke. Those marks really are going to university so you best do anything in your power to make sure that those marks are looking good (especially if you’re uncertain about what you want to study). Get a tutor, go to the clinic, DO YOUR HOMEWORK, practice that sum until you can write it in the sand underwater, ask your teacher and friends for help. Take as many steps to ensure that you are prepared and ready for those November exams no matter what.
by Jo Roodt
- Kimber Jacobs
Dear Grade 12s Congratulations you have reached your final year of high school may be a little taller, a little curvier or perhaps a bigger bra size. You unapologetically push yourself into the front of the tuckshop line wearing your matric jersey as a symbol that “you’ve made it”. But sadly, I hate to break it to you- matric will humble you very quickly. In your first week, you will be overloaded with new projects in every subject. So make sure that you keep track of that because deadlines can really creep up on you. Do your projects, don’t watch Netflix. I know everyone wears an invisible blindfold towards them but sadly life is not a Sandra Bullock movie. I would be lying if I told you that the Matric Dance would not take over your life. One minute you are on Pinterest looking for a dress, the next minute you are looking through your contacts for a partner. But the dance is only one night, don’t bully your parents into buying you the most expensive accessories! Realize that just because something costs more doesn’t mean it will make you happier. Matric in itself is extremely expensive, so do yourself a favour and be savvy with your money. If your aunties are not asking about your dance, the dreaded “so what you doing next year” will definitely come next. My only advice is that everything will come through in the end even if it’s the very last minute. You might even switch up on yourself and that’s okay. Don’t be afraid or let others scare you into thinking you are not meant to do something.
by Lula de Rose
A lot of people also seem to base their university decision on the institution itself. Go to a varsity because of what they can offer you, not because of their name. Give yourself the best opportunity for your future and that starts with applying. If your marks aren’t what you thought they should be, make a change now but don’t beat yourself up if things aren’t going your way. This year will prove to you that you can do anything. You will learn some real things on time management, prioritizing and about yourself. We never know what this year will bring but don’t worry about the future, just focus on the now. Make time for yourself, through all the chaos of Grade 12 it’s important to have your own back. This is the year of you. Good luck, I’m rooting for you. - Tamiya Saffodien
The limits of feminism, featuring Black Feminism and Feminism in Third World Countries.
Femi-what?
The idea of feminism is to remove the mentality that shapes the practices regarding male and female roles, to remove the structural factors that influence men and women to sort themselves out differently. The diversity of the feminist movement allows for different tastes and the ability to address certain situations amongst men and women differently. However, the definition of feminism is too broad when it comes to black feminism and feminism in Third World Countries. Let us narrow down the definition a bit: one must believe in the equality of women to qualify as a feminist. But what does equality mean in different parts of the world? The Western feminists’ understanding of gender has not yet specified correctly the details of sexual division. The difference in a nation’s race, ethnicity and poverty challenges the Western definition of feminism. At the same time, the diversity of women challenges feminists’ politics. The urgent survival of women in third world countries has made the feminist involvement of women in the development of vital importance. Despite the success of feminism, there is still much work to be done. Numerous self-proclaimed feminists fail to acknowledge the different forms of oppression women face around the globe.
by Lula de Rose
“Feminist: The person who believes in the social, political and economic equality of the sexes."
In Kate Emmon’s article: ‘How Western Feminists Should Actually Support Third World Women’ she mentions that: ‘Western feminists cannot understand the assistance women in the developing world need, unless they look past the false conception of a struggling sisterhood and take into account race, class, sexuality, religion and culture. As author Chandra Talpade Mohantry wrote in Under Western Eyes: Feminist Scholarship and Colonial Discourses, by pushing for development, the West is saying that “third world women as a group or category are automatically defined as: religious (read “not progressive”), family-orientated (read “traditional”),
illiterate (read “ignorant”), domestic (read “backward”). This creates a power struggle where First World Women take on the role of the oppressing male and Third World Women take on the role of the oppressed. Instead of pushing for globalisation and claiming that it is the only way for these countries to move forward, they should opt for transnational feminism. This approach aims to create alliances across borders without altering the cultural authenticity and holding onto Western standards. At the International Women Year Conference, women who attended recognised the fact that creating a universal political agenda was unrealistic. Instead, they created a spectrum of NGO’s for women’s advocacy, allowing women to work internationally through these organisations. These changes deemed to have successful outcomes because women from all countries supported one another and recognised the variance in needs that females have and helped them acquire the change they needed, not the change which First World countries believed they should make. Many acknowledge that feminism means equality amongst men and women, but they often fail to realise the different ways in which feminism is applied around the world. Black feminism originates from the consciousness of the intersecting patterns of discrimination and dates back to 1851. The advocate for the feminist movement at the time was Sojourner Truth who gave a speech at a women’s convention which challenged both racism and sexism faced by black women when she asked ‘Ain’t I a Woman?’ This woman, amongst many other activists in the later years, showed how black community politics laid the foundation for social justice against sexism and marginalization from White feminists. In the 1970s black feminists saw intersectionality (‘the way gender, race and other social categories interact to influence individual outcomes’) as the distinction between their movement and that of white feminism because ‘the major source of difficulty in our political work is that we are not just trying to fight oppression on one front of even two, but instead to address a whole range of oppression’. In contrast to White Feminism, Black Feminism aims to empower black women with critical ways of thinking that centre on how racism and sexism work together to create a black woman’s social issues and inequalities. - Amarachi Vazidule
Fear is our Biggest Limit - Nicola Van Tellingen
by Lula de Rose
We are all afraid of something. Whether it’s a full blown phobia or a little anxious thought that hangs on the edges of your consciousness. All of us have at least one. A little niggling voice that prevents you from living your life to the FULL and controls how you think and act. Fear becomes the limiting reagent in your life if you only give it half a chance. It takes over your thoughts and emotions. In 2019, we all deserve to live a life not controlled by limits that our fear determines for us. So, according to the National Health Service of the UK, there are some ways to face your fears. 1. Take some time Remove yourself from the situation that is causing your fear or anxious thoughts and allow yourself physically to calm down. Give your body some time to return to normal. 2. Breathe Yes, it sounds cliched, but, according to the NHS, learning to feel the panic and breathe through it allows you to cope better with it and removes the power the fear has on you. 3. Look at the evidence A lot of the time fears are irrational, but still valid, and, therefore, this only works in some instances, but often examining how likely the fearful event is, helps disarm the fear. If the event is classed as almost impossible then sometimes it goes some way in assuring you it’s not going to happen to you. 4. Don’t try to be perfect Everyone has fears and everyone has days when those thoughts and feelings are worse than others. You are going to have bad days - that’s okay. Learn to accept that and remember that better days are still ahead. 5. Talk about it Whether it be to a trusted friend, family member, counsellor or anyone else for that matter, sometimes voicing your fear removes its power. It prevents it from consuming your mind internally and makes it something that can be discussed and controlled out in the open. Another person’s support is also incredibly helpful. Our fears have the power to govern us, and, left alone, they will but we all have the power to try to control them. We may not be successful all the time - that’s just not realistic. And there will be days when none of these “tips” work. But, on some days, they will and hopefully, armed with this advice, we can all live a 2019 free from our self-imposed limits and achieve our full potential.
Creative Problems & Creative Possibilities
by Cheyenne Britten
- Chéyenne Britten
I often find myself met with creative obstacles in my art, photography or writing. It happens to many. The challenging part is trying to climb over that obstacle. However, this could be a good thing. I have realised this, after coming across many drawbacks, that having a creative limitation can be useful. Think of it as going to an ice- cream shop which has all the flavours that can possibly be made. Sounds exciting, right? It could be, but if you’re as indecisive as me it would take hours to choose. However, if the shop restricted their flavours to just 3, it would be much easier. That's just what it feels like with a creative limitation. It doesn't have the specific ‘flavour’ you’re wanting, so you’re forced to choose between the plain vanilla, chocolate and strawberry. But don’t just stop there. Why be boring? Add some toppings and sauces to show your own style, or have it in a mug instead of a cone. Having too many options can be dangerous when it comes to being creative. We see it as being free but really, it just prevents us from choosing where to start. Being met with an obstacle forces us to start somewhere. It forces us to adapt. The end product will be much more interesting than following the norm.
A quote I read recently by Bob Goff says “We’re not held back by what we don’t have, but by what we don’t use” and that really made me think. We are so focused on what’s outside that box, that we don’t bother using what we already have of the inside. You're inside the box you're told to think out of but there's no way out. So you have to work with what you have inside it. A great example of how creative limitations are actually helpful is by noting the actions of the artist, Phil Hansen. He experienced a big limitation- the hand tremor that prevented him from creating the pointillism drawings for which he was known. Instead of giving up, he “embraced the shake”. Since then he has created works which used his torso as the canvas. He also made a portrait out of matches and then burnt it. He also created a work out of 80 Starbucks cups, which only cost him 80 cents. He purposefully restricts his medium when making an artwork. This allows him to use the specific medium in unconventional ways. His Ted talk on his journey and how these limitations are helpful in our creative journey is a mustwatch So, next time, instead of looking at the creative limitation as something restrictive, rather see it as an opportunity to think alternatively. Embrace it. Make the limitation, liberation.
Pushing (Stress) Limits I recently acquired my Learner’s Licence and started to experience the stress that comes with being a Learner Driver on the road. Each time I stop at a stop street and a car appears behind me, my shoulders and feet tense. I try to pull away, but the car seems to have become deaf to my commands. In short: I feel extremely sorry for every car that ends up driving behind me. I can almost hear the driver’s thoughts: “Oh no! Not another Learner.”.
Here are a few ideas to lower your stress levels: - Reflect on your present situation and remind yourself of the bigger picture. - Organise your thoughts. You can write out a list of your tasks - this will help to make the overwhelming tasks seem less stressful. However, which way we experience it, stress is - Use your lists to prioritise stress. Stress with which all High School Learners by starting with tasks that are well acquainted is ‘school stress’. The stress of are the most important and every day leading up to a test or oral; the stress of need to be completed first. not being able to finish a task before the due date; - Take one step at a time. the stress of writing the test or presenting the oral; Remember that each step the stress of ‘the big reveal’ as tasks are handed takes you closer to reaching back. You could say that ‘school stress’ is a neveryour end goal or completing ending story - one that often leads to tears. a challenging task. - Take time to relax. This Stress is not always negative, as it is necessary in will give you time to breathe order to keep us on our toes and to push us to and allow your mind to take strive towards excellence and reach our goals. a break from the task that Unfortunately, there are times when stress causes you to stress. influences the health of our minds and bodies in - Exercise can lower your negative ways. Your body is quick to show the stress - it does not have to symptoms of stress such as headaches, be something difficult. A rollercoaster emotions, anxiety and nausea. The walk will not only relieve problem is that we struggle to recognise these stress, but boost your mood symptoms so that we can take time to reflect on the as well. situation and find ways to live a more balanced life. Instead, we carry on and cause even more damage Although it is possible to to our health. push yourself beyond your stress limits, it is advisable I am sure that all of us have come to a point where to prevent yourself from we are so stressed that it is nearly impossible to pushing yourself that far. think rationally and it feels as if the world will Your health is more collapse on top of us. In those moments, the best important than your work thing to do is to step back and look at the bigger and you should always listen picture - to see that this single moment in time is to the needs of your mind not as significant as you might think it is. We tend and body in order to live a to become stressed when we focus on the past, healthy and balanced life. wishing that we had done more work then, and the You will thank yourself for future, where there are numerous possible limiting your stress instead outcomes that cause fear of failure to control us. of allowing yourself to cross The best way to conquer this is to live in the your stress limit. present, and, if you find that you are not doing so now, to return to living in the present.
- Mariné Bosch
Implementing Self-Care Self-care has become associated with ‘taking a break,' allowing yourself that sweet treat, watching that episode on a school night, or going to bed extra early - even though you have a hundred and one things that are due the next day.
by Lula de Rose
Self-care need not be defined as eating half a chocolate cake in order to ‘deal’. This article is not attempting to deny the importance of ‘taking a break’ from your schedule, nor is it suggesting that the little ways in which you treat yourself are fundamentally wrong or bad. Instead, its intention is to help you redefine what self-care is. I would like to argue that self-care is a lifestyle; a way in which you intentionally and continually make life more enjoyable for yourself. Apart from ‘taking a break’ and taking time to do things that you enjoy; self-care may be whittled down to eating, excising, sleeping, and working in a way that is kind to yourself.
- Ciara Birch
Firstly, sweet treats (cake, chocolate and pie) are amazing for the taste buds and so are savoury foods such as crackers, sausages, and bread. The aforementioned foods are heavily processed and are, therefore, not ideal for our bodies and brain. In order to take care of yourself, through eating, it is best to eat whole foods. ‘Whole’ in that sentence is the antonym of ‘processed’. Whole foods are foods that have not been refined or changed from their original form. Whole foods are free from additives, as well as, artificial substances. Whole foods include, but are not limited to: Fruits: bananas, avocados, watermelon, dried mango, raisins, apples, tomatoes, cucumber Roots: carrots, potatoes, sweet potatoes, onions, beetroot… Leaves: broccoli, kale, swiss chard, parsley, chives, lettuce, rosemary, sage, thyme… Nuts: almonds, cashews, macadamia, brazil nuts Grains: rice, quinoa, amaranth, barley… animal products: steak, chicken, eggs…
Through eating a varied whole food diet, you will provide your body with all of the necessary nutrients that it needs in order to feel good and think clearly. Secondly, we turn to exercise. When you take care of your mind and body through eating food that is nutritious and delicious you will naturally have more energy. You should put this extra energy towards intentional activity. Taking yourself for a brisk walk, participating in a fifteen-minute yoga class on YouTube, dancing to your favourite song, or playing a sport at school will make the world of difference to your ability to feel centred. Yes, it is true that exercise releases the feel-good hormone dopamine, but regular exercise does so much more for you. The following is a list of a few of the benefits of regular exercise: The building and maintenance of strong muscles and bones An increase and stabilizing of your energy levels The clearing of skin (regular exercise encourages the body to produce antioxidants, which combats the oxidative stress that is often a cause of confused hormones) Increased memory (exercise increases the heart rate and allows for more oxygen to reach your brain through the bloodstream) Increase in sleep quality Thirdly, Sleep is one of the most joy-inducing words in the vocabulary of teenagers. Yet, few teenagers sleep for adequate amounts of time, and when they do sleep, it is often of poor quality. Through eating a whole food diet you will minimize the additives and artificial substances that you consume. These substances often disrupt our brains’ ability to shut down for the night. Poor sleep quality has also been linked to stress. When you get enough sleep you: Reduce stress Improve your memory Are able to concentrate Allow your body time to repair itself Lastly, committing to your schoolwork is self-care. School is essentially your job when you are in high school, and it is your responsibility to reach your own personal potential. School work is often a major cause of stress in our lives and although stress is not intrinsically bad, too much of it can make you feel and behave a little insanely. When tackling schoolwork it is important to remember that completing your homework, and concentrating in class is a form of self-care. Understanding what is happening in each of your subjects, and getting those study notes written before the stress of exams sets in - is a way of taking care of yourself through minimizing future stress overload. When approaching this concept of self-care, you must keep in mind that if you intentionally, proactively and continually do things that better you and your life you will seldom find yourself needing to pull yourself back from the brink of madness. Take really good care of yourself in every aspect of your life… because nobody else will.
Psychological Limits
- Jenna Ryklief
What are psychological limits? These are limits that could be described as boundaries which we create for ourselves, whether they be conscious or subconscious. These are the furthest extent to which we think we can perform. They may also appear as doubts we have about ourselves and the ideas we’ve formed about something based on a positive or negative past experience we have had. It’s all in your head! Are they good or bad? Trick question. They are both good and bad (depending on circumstances). On the one hand, it is important to have personal boundaries, such as how you allow people to treat you or how far you allow people to push you before you finally snap. On the other hand, when we tell ourselves we cannot do a particular task, we should push a little harder or go that extra mile as it will affect our overall performance. This is known as a mental block. How can you overcome the bad psychological limitations you have? If you find yourself in a situation where you’re struggling with a mental block you just can’t seem to manage and it’s throwing you off your game, it helps to ‘reset’ your mind to get rid of preconceived ideas from past negative experiences and doubts you have about the task at hand. Get out of your own head. How to ‘reset’ your mind: Start by taking a breather just for a moment to think about what it is you are struggling to achieve. What is getting in the way of achieving this? What is required of you in order to achieve this? Think of the doubts you are having about your abilities and why you could be having these doubts. Now move the doubts you had before to the back of your mind and try going forward as if you’re doing the task for the first time. Forget the frustration or fatigue you felt in the past and go into it with an open mind. Change your mindset towards things you don’t usually enjoy doing and you may even surprise yourself! A word of advice... It is important to remind yourself not to compete with others (when there is no actual competition, of course!). Focus on yourself and doing your personal best and focus less on what others around you are doing. Don’t let the progress of others distract you as they’re not you and it is not worth your time and energy worrying about whether they’re better or worse at something than you. Everyone is just trying to make it! Psychological limitations. Everyone has them, but it’s how you deal with them that determines if they make you or break you. This low-quality image has a high-quality message, “Sometimes the thing that is holding you back is all in your head”.
by Mikaela Meyer
Boundaries - Kayla Meiring
Everyone has certain limitations when it comes to letting other people close to them whether it be emotionally or physically. These limitations are called boundaries. Boundaries help us to set limits for other people’s behaviour towards us so that we are comfortable. Boundaries are completely normal and healthy. You have a right to set boundaries for other people in situations that make you feel awkward or uncomfortable. Boundaries vary with different people in your life. You may have more rigid boundaries with someone you’ve known for 1 month than with someone whom you’ve known for 10 years. Just like you will set different boundaries for your parents and someone with whom you’re in a relationship. At the end of the day, it’s all up to you. You decide what your boundaries are with certain people and it’s also your right and somewhat of a responsibility to let other people know your boundaries so that your privacy is respected, especially in romantic relationships, where, if no boundaries are set, partners may start to feel as if there is a lack of privacy within the relationship and may want to split up because of it. When you set boundaries you need to think about yourself and not the other person. Your boundaries are about your feelings, your values and your beliefs - not the other person’s. You don’t need to explain your boundaries to anyone. The boundaries you set involve your personal decisions and have nothing to do with anyone else. We also need to remember that just as we want our boundaries to be respected, we need to respect those of other people. If you overstep someone else’s boundaries and you see that it’s making them uncomfortable, then for the sake of your relationship, don’t do it again. If you really are having trouble understanding other people’s boundaries, maybe subtly bring it up in the conversation but if they're not comfortable talking about it, don’t push them. Boundaries are helpful in any type of relationship or situation. They help us to feel more comfortable around people now that they know where their limits are. It’s a personal decision that we make and it needs to be respected just as we respect other people’s boundaries.
the Limits of Our Oceans Since the dawn of humankind, people have been crossing boundaries and pushing limits which have led to incredible inventions that have made our lives more convenient and better, but as we look at how much turmoil our ocean is going through, one cannot help but wonder whether the inventions and breakthroughs we believe to be outstanding are actually pushing the ocean to its breaking point. Plastic became widely used around the 1960s and was dubbed the ‘Wonder Material’ due to the fact that it could be adapted to be used in a variety of different ways and because of its durability. Since then it has been estimated that 8.3 billion tons of plastic have been produced with 6.3 billion tons of it ending up in the landfills of the world. A lot of this plastic finds its way into our oceans through wind and rain carrying it to rivers, drainage networks or to coasts. This ‘Wonder Material’, although proving to be very useful in modern life, has filled our oceans and is destroying it. Sea creatures such as turtles are dying through ingesting plastic. Harmful toxins are being released from the plastic into the water, thousands of fish are ingesting microplastics and this is just to name a few problems that we are facing. We are pushing our oceans’ limits and causing sea life to drown in plastic. Instead of waiting to see how far we can push our oceans’ limits, we should all try to take steps toward creating a healthier, cleaner and plastic -free ocean. - Kelly Blake
by Lula de Rose
Like Yourself
It is a common trend among teenagers to have social media. We all love to post our photos as well as see each other's photos on sites like Instagram and Facebook. It allows us to show everyone funny or sad moments in our life as well as allowing us to see what everyone else says. Whenever someone “likes” your photo it can make you feel accepted and happy, but “likes” aren’t always good. If someone doesn’t “like” your post or decides not to make a comment, you can feel disappointed and sad. This leads to social media becoming a daily activity. Always checking to see the latest update on how many followers or “likes” you have increases stress. Social media invites a great deal of stress when you base who you think you are on what others say. It can also cause one-on-one communication skill problems. When on social media, you can’t see the other person’s original reaction. Therefore, you can say whatever you want without really realising you have hurt the other person.
Even though Social media has a lot of negative effects on us, we still go back and check. It is not far from one of those incidents when someone tells you not to do something, but you still do it. As humans, we all crave acceptance amongst our peers and there is nothing wrong with that. We must,however, be careful about how much we allow social media to control our lives. Setting limits on how much you post or go on social media is a start. Realising that not everyone can “like” or comment on what you posted and that if they don’t it doesn’t - L i e z a a n B o s c h mean they hate you. Even though social media has some bad influences, it doesn’t mean that we need to stop using it. We only have to be careful about what we do ignore to spare our feelings as well as the feelings of others.